On Thurs., Jan. 27, an Internship Abroad Information Session was held in Dorrill Dining Hall's Lee Grand Dining Hall Annex from 12:30-1:30 p.m. The event was co-hosted by the Office of International Affairs and the Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC). Tammen Nicholson, a representative from CIS Abroad, was also present. The information session served visiting students with information from presenting organization CIS abroad, Semester at Sea, and The Washington Center. An informative sheet including considerations while conducting research, "How internships work at Longwood," an Organizations/Providers list, and extra resources were also available for students.
After the information session had ended, Assistant Director of the ACAC Sarah Hobgood was available to explain the materials outlined at the interning abroad session. The first consideration Hobgood discussed was the option of a paid or unpaid internship. Explaining that this and other points outlined in the session were important for both home-based and abroad opportunities, Hobgood stressed personally determining the importance of either paid or unpaid positions. This distinction will be important for students taking internships during the summer and using them to supplement income or trying to sort through opportunities for paying providers.
The process by which an internship is obtained from a provider is also an important consideration for students. Is the provider going to send inquiring students a list of positions that is replied to with a resume or is student placed in a position? Hobgood explained that providers such as CIS ask for a cover letter, resume, interest area, and statement of purpose. Then they can place an applicant with the appropriate company or organization.
Evaluating what skills and experiences are gained in an internship can help with interviews in which the prior internship comes up. In this way, the internship may really pay off as not only a resume addition but a tactile and useable resource.
The final and comparatively important internship choice for students is whether or not they will complete an internship during an academic semester or the summer. If an internship is found during either the fall or spring semesters, a nearby university can possibly be attended to complete general education credits.
There are very specific procedures at Longwood University for taking opportunities interconnected to the considerations in doing an internship. The main lure of internships often comes with the school's required General Education Goal 15. While calling for internship experience, Goal 15 is granted by department and needs the involvement of a faculty advisor to provide guidance with registration, forms, possible journals, and papers that may need to be completed at the internship's end. Providers and organizations such as Longwood's CareerConnect database, CIS Abroad, The Washington Center, Semester at Sea, George Mason University: Center for Global Education, Directory of International Internships, CAPA Internships Abroad, Council on International Education Exchange (Teaching in Spain), IIE Passport, and StudyAbroad.com Intern were listed in the session's information. StudyAbroad.com was particularly stated to provide accounts from previous internship takers. This added tool to preview the experience should prove beneficial to students.
Hobgood explained that the number of students who take abroad internships varies. She gave a tentative estimate of a handful of students a year, with possibly more from education majors who take the option of teaching overseas. The event was actually sparked by an increasing number of interested students asking specifically about abroad internships. A number of companies that specialize in abroad interning opportunities also contact the school through the Office of International Affairs and a Fall Study Abroad Fair.
Further interest in internships may stem from requirements on the 400 level in either major or minor studies. For more resources on interning abroad and get assistance with one's research, students are encouraged to visit the Office of International Affairs.
Whether for experience, added prestige to a resume, or simple exploration, interning abroad proves useful to the common student. However, it should be remembered that the resources are not always going to appear at one's doorstep, but are always within reach. The journey of a thousand miles begins in sight of your dorm room.
