Intern with a Purpose: A Student’s Experience and Advice
By Alivia Birdwell
As you are entering the capstone courses for the writing minor, the idea of locating an internship for potentially 8 to 15 hours a week with little-to-no pay may sound daunting. Do not assume that an internship is merely an academic requirement with a possible stipend. Instead, approach the internship in terms of what the experience can do for you and your future career. Select an internship that caters to your interests, provides hands-on experience, and promises networking in your chosen field. If you play your cards right, you could land yourself a full-time position.
I elected to intern for Direct Relief International and found that an unpaid internship can be rewarding after all.
What is Direct Relief International?
Direct Relief International (DRI) is a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara, CA that supplies medical aid in an effort to “strengthen in-country health efforts around the world to improve the quality of life for the most impoverished people.” DRI requested technical writers to document business procedures and computer applications. The thought of instructional writing for an entire quarter seemed bland at first. However, I soon realized that the clarification of a single document explaining the process of shipping supplies overseas would have a lasting impact on both the organization and their partners abroad. My work had a purpose and I positively contributed to the organization.
The Benefits of Interning
You are acquiring skills and an experience that will carry over into any profession. Working in a collaborative setting and experiencing internal business communication is an asset to any organization. Many employers get their employees from the internship pool. Think about it—you are receiving free training and establishing relationships with employees and management. By interning for a business or an organization that complements your major and your career interests, you are increasing your chances for being hired by the organization itself or a similar institution.
How to Find the Right Internship
In order to obtain the right internship you must first examine your interests to determine how your intern experience can fulfill both your writing minor and career interests. Here are suggestions and tips to aid you in your quest for the ideal internship, and to make the most of it while you are there:
- Research different businesses, organizations, or institutions in the area that you can envision yourself working with fulltime. Interning is the first step.
- Visit previous writing instructors and convey to them what you are looking for in an internship. They have connections and will most likely know of someone looking to hire.
- Use GauchoLink and get to know (and be known by) UCSB Career Center professionals
- Go above and beyond the call of duty. Putting in extra time by arriving an hour early or taking an assignment home to complete demonstrates your dedication and work ethic.
- Demonstrate a willingness to learn. Always ask questions to show that you are interested in the organization and aim to meet their demands.
Direct Relief International
http://www.directrelief.org