The Internship Search: Insights from Ian Hare
Written by: Hannah Su Hepler, Associate Director for Career Development
Searching for an internship can be daunting and stressful, but with a growth mindset and strategy, success is within reach. Ian Hare, Career Development Associate and third year graduate student at Slippery Rock University, shares his invaluable insights and experiences that guided him through his internship search process.
What were a couple of goals you created that helped you search for internships / narrow your search?
To help narrow my search for an internship that was required of me for my program was to think of an office I wanted to gain experience in. As a upcoming higher education professional, I understand it is important to assist students in multiple settings. For me, I always had my own rank of functional areas that I have the most interest in. Since I love working with students on the academic side of college, I felt as though a position in Career Services would be a great experience for me before graduating. Other goals of mine were to narrow down where I will be living, which helped me in my search also.
Where did you look for internships? What resource do you feel like was most helpful to you?
From what I recall, I do not necessarily remember doing much of a general search in the Pittsburgh area for an internship. What helped me reach out to all of these universities was the network I created. I was surrounded around professionals at my campus an hour from Pittsburgh, but after talking with the director of Career Services at Slippery Rock University, I was given a connection to Chatham. This conversation was impactful, so I made sure to express my passion and interest within my desired functional area.
Could you share some advice on how you reached out to people in your network that you were searching for internships?
When I reached out to my network to search for internships, I knew that these people I was contacting had not only spoken to me when I needed something. My network is made of people that I have worked with, worked for, or have heard about my work in the field. Advice I would give to students is to carry yourself in a way that exemplifies someone they will want to recommend based on the work they know you for in the past. Then when the time comes, your personality and skills will already be something that comes to mind for those in your network.
What advice would you give to students who are looking for internship opportunities right now?
Advice I would give students who are looking for internships now is to use your resources. I understand not all students have a network that they might feel confident in, but as a student at a university use everyone that works there. Career office, teachers, campus programs, other students, Handshake, anyone that could link you to something you are passionate about. My biggest piece of advice is understanding what you want in an internship and speak about it, as much as possible, which will allow others to understand what you are seeking and could possibly give you the opportunity you are looking for.