Interns with ingenuity: Tips and tricks for getting started from ASU Career Services
One thing on the mind of almost every college student is this question: what am I going to do after I graduate?
Classes and academic programs at Arizona State University introduce students to their field of interest, presenting them with relevant education to further their future careers. However, the only way to truly know if you are going to enjoy a job is to try it out in a hands-on environment.
Internships are a vital way for Sun Devils to get out there and learn more about their potential careers. Traditionally, internships last one semester, during which interns are immersed in a professional work setting that specifically caters to their progress and training. Not only does it teach interns about their future career expectations, but it also creates long-lasting relationships and connections in the workforce.
Dakota Webber, the director of ASU Career Services on the West Valley campus, talked about the recommended timeline for Sun Devils looking for internship opportunities.
“I recommend students start looking for opportunities as soon as their second semester here at ASU,” Webber said. “Once they’ve gotten over the hurdle of that first semester, they should start seriously considering updating their resume, getting used to writing a cover letter and searching for openings.”
When imagining internships, most people picture cubicles and business casual attire, restricted to those who want to work in a standard office setting. However, businesses are not the only ones seeking interns. There are internship roles open for every kind of student at ASU, including those interested in the fashion industry, fine arts or community engagement.
Nathan Dean, a fourth-year student studying social and behavioral sciences at the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, is just one of the many Sun Devils with a unique, invaluable internship. Dean works for the Glendale Fire Department, interning on their crisis response team.
“Going into social and behavioral sciences, I wanted to be more understanding of helping people during their worst moments,” Dean said. “In crisis response, you are showing up for someone whose day has been ruined. You are trying to help get them the resources that they need to continue being a person, dealing with the problems they now have.”
Dean started with the Glendale Fire Department in August 2023. In his time there, he has learned a lot about a job that once immensely interested him, but with which he had no experience.
“For me, it was getting the chance to go out there and to get a feel for what it’s like,” Dean said. “What is the background of this job that I am going into? Is this what I am going to want? You are going to figure it out there.”
When asked if he had any advice for other students who want internships, Dean pointed out available resources provided through ASU.
“Get your Handshake account set up,” Dean said. “Open it and start looking. Figure out what you are going to do. I know people like to wait until the last minute, but don’t procrastinate on something like this.”
Webber echoed this sentiment and explained the services offered through the platform.
“Handshake is ASU-facing, so it is only ASU students who have access to those posted opportunities,” Webber said. “When you’re battling through thousands of applications on Indeed, you might not get noticed. If you go through Handshake, you are applying in a much smaller pool, and you already have a step up because these employers are actively hiring Sun Devils.”
For students just beginning the internship search, it is important to feature strengths and any relevant past work experiences.
“In your resume, highlight the things you are doing in school right now,” Webber advised. “Any projects you are working on or relevant classes you have taken. It is one thing to say you are a critical thinker, but it’s another to really showcase that on your resume.”
Beyond Handshake, Sun Devils interested in international internship opportunities should look into ASU’s Global Education Office for up-to-date information on working abroad. These opportunities allow students to delve deeper into their career paths and simultaneously explore a new, more globally-focused environment.
ASU Career Services also has an abundance of micro-internships available on its website. Micro-internships are on a much shorter timeline, lasting anywhere from one week to five weeks, and are in collaboration with Fortune 500 companies.
“Micro-internships are great for first- and second-year students,” Webber said. “Students will submit their profiles to the website, and then employers will select them to complete these mini projects.”
Some internship postings made by larger companies are well sought after and have a more rigorous hiring process. These positions open their applications a year or more before the start date, meaning interested students will endure a long window of interviews and onboarding.
Webber urged students to consider this longer timeline when starting the job hunt.
“Many students are looking for federal internships, and those open a year in advance,” Webber said. “It’s critical that students think, ‘Hey, I need to be proactive about this, because I might be a sophomore before I actually get into this internship.”
To learn more about the internship opportunities at ASU, set up an appointment with ASU’s Career Service advising through Handshake. Advisors will help students walk through the application process, workshopping their resume or cover letters and preparing for prospective interviews.
Photo by Tim Trumble Photography