AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
When deciding between two equally qualified college
graduates for an entry level position, employers are more likely to choose the
one who has some career-related experience. One of the best ways for a student
to obtain experience in the business world is an internship.
The mission of the Sigmund Weis School of Business (SWSB), is "to engage
students in theoretical, applied, and experiential learning that leads to the
acquisition of professional knowledge and skills, and personal values
appropriate to beginning successful careers in business..." The Business
Internship Program is one of the principal means established by the SWSB to
accomplish these objectives.
An internship provides an invaluable learning tool whereby students are
afforded the opportunity to apply
theoretical knowledge to real-world business situations. In doing so, they
learn to function in the professional arena, to exercise team-building
skills, and to enhance their networking and overall relationship development skills.
The SWSB internship program is available to all SWSB students, but it is
primarily tailored for rising seniors. By the end of their junior year,
business students will have completed sufficient core and business courses so
that their internship employers may assign them meaningful work.
Internships are primarily arranged for the summer months, but they are also possible during the school year. All internships are designed to provide
academic credit, and most result in salary payment to the interns.
Internships are served at geographic locations of the student's choosing;
however, students are normally expected to provide their own transportation
and lodging. Some students commute to work sites near their home, while others
opt to locate away from home, often with businesses in major metropolitan
areas.
The internship experience should enable students to narrow their focus on
career plans and to develop better decision-making criteria about an entry
level position upon graduation. Additional benefits include:
- Providing a competitive employment edge by virtue of newly acquired skills and confidence,
- Learning first-hand about a career field,
- Experiencing organizations of a particular size and type,
- Experiencing new geographic location(s),
- Gaining confidence as a valued member of a work group,
- Beginning to develop work habits and to formulate a personal work ethic, and
- Beginning a professional network.
Please contact me if you wish to participate or otherwise desire more information about this important program.
Ronald D. Keefer
Director, SWSB Internship Program
Phone: 570-372-4209; Fax: 570-372-4491
Email: keefer@susqu.edu
Introduction