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  1. Home
  2. Offices and Divisions
  3. Academic Affairs
  4. Internships
  5. Information for Prospective Interns

Beginning Your Internship Search

Finding an appropriate internship is a research project likely to take several weeks to several months.

Consider the following when beginning your search:

Your Interests

  • Do you have a clear idea of where you would like to intern OR where you’d like to work after college?  A specific company or organization?
  • Are there issues (e.g., sustainability, women’s rights), products, or services that you are especially drawn to?  (e.g., fashion, sports/entertainment, retail, health care…)
  • Where, geographically, would you like to intern?  Do you have friends/family that live somewhere you’d like to explore?
  • A Suggestion:
    Make an appointment to talk with a career counselor and/or take advantage of the several interest/skill inventories available to you via the Career Services Office.

Resources

  • Networking
    • Friends/family: Do you know someone who knows someone?  Networking is often the most effective means of finding internship opportunities.
    • Professional Associations: For major US cities, the GoinGlobal US City Career Guides include targeted networking resources.
    • Social Media
  • Explore job/internship fairs sponsored by Penn State
  • Job/Internship Search sites
    These are numerous some are listed on our Student Resources page
  • Opportunities with the Federal Government
  • Opportunities with the PA State Government

NOTE: The above sites will list only opportunities that are advertised. There are many possibilities for crafting your own internship with an organization that is not advertising for internships. Start with the sites below.

Chambers of Commerce websites

Chambers of commerce are business-to-business networking organizations. They often have broad membership from local/regional businesses and non-profits.  If you have an idea where you’d like to intern geographically, these are great sites to search for specific organizations to target.

National site (lists states, then under states, localities)

  • Choose a state
  • Choose a locality
  • Look for Membership Directory (sometimes just Directory)
  • Search by category

United Way websites

A local United Way office is a good place to begin to explore service organizations and other not-for-profit groups in a particular location. Listings by states may be found below on the United Way site.

Internships

  • Request Information
  • Student Resources

    • Site Updates
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    • Popular Internship Search Sites
  • Information for Prospective Interns

    • Letter to Prospective Summer 2020 Summer Interns
    • Why Intern?
    • Internship Basics
    • Beginning Your Internship Search
  • Faculty/Adviser Resources

    • Internship Overview for Faculty and Advisers
    • Suggestions for Preparing and Instructing Student-Interns
    • Faculty Guide to the Mid-Semester Site Visit
    • Evaluating Student Internship Performance
    • Showcasing Internships
  • Employer/Host Resources

    • Information for Prospective Internship Host Sites and Supervisors
    • Host Supervisor Evaluation Instructions
  • Student and Faculty Login
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us

See Also

  • Academic Affairs
  • Academic Advising
  • Center for Community-Based Studies

Penn State Career Conversations Podcast

Episode 10, Part 1: Completing a Successful Summer Internship
Episode 10, Part 2: Completing a Successful Summer Internship, continued

Internships Spotlight

Ivyside Legacy Tree and Bench Program

A Growing Legacy

The Ripken Experience Sign

Having a Ball

See More

Penn State Altoona

3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5000
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

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A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
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