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Home > Students > Find an Internship > Make Your Own Internship

How to Make Your Own Internship

In 2006, students and employers reported the greatest challenge during the job search was competition. This is why networking and applying directly to an organization or company are consistently the most effective methods for finding an internship or a job.

At Hopkins, the majority of students create their own internships by going directly to the organization that interests them, rather than waiting for a position to be posted and then competing with others for that position. By not waiting for a position to be posted, students can have a truly unique and substantive experience that is tailored to their interests and career goals.

Making your own internship requires planning, resourcefulness, and persistence. Before you begin this process you may want to consider meeting with a career counselor to discuss your action plan. Here are the basic steps of making your own internship:

Before You Start

Target specific organizations
Based on your internship goal, you should develop a list of potential organizations to target in your search. Organizations could make your list based on whether they have previously hired interns (from Hopkins or elsewhere), their location, and industry. For assistance with identifying and targeting information, meet with a Career Counselor.

Resources:

Internship Listings: Listings from previous semesters show the organizations that seek Hopkins students and the types of interns they have hired in the past. Theses listings are available in your J-Connect Account or in the internship binders.
inCircle: Develop a list of employers that have hired Hopkins students and alumni by researching where Hopkins alumni are currently working.
Internship Directories: The Internship Bible and Internships USA are great ways to identify large internship programs early on. Remember that the most up-to-date information will be found on the program’s website, so use the directories as starting point for your research.
The Career Center Library and the Hopkins Library have a variety of online and print resources to help with this process.

Identify the organizations' needs
You have to know what an employer needs in order to market your skills and experience. Internships benefit employers by providing well-prepared, quality employees for temporary or seasonal projects. They also provide existing employees extra time to pursue more creative projects. To know the organization’s needs, you need to learn about the organization and its industry. You need to know:

Company information e.g., mission, core values, history, clients
Current industry trends e.g., recent changes in the industry, how competitive is the industry, issues and trends that may impact the industry
Current company trends e.g., new clients, new contracts, expanding or restructuring divisions or departments

Communicate how you can meet their needs
By knowing the organization’s needs and your goals, you can then articulate why they need you as an intern. This message should be clear in all your correspondence and interactions with the employer, e.g., in your resume, cover letter, interview and thank you note.

Challenges You Might Face

Organization Hiring Process:
Organization that you contact directly may be unfamiliar with hiring interns. Most employers are familiar with the process for hiring temporary or contract position. They can use that same process to hire interns. If they have questions about this process, students and employers may contact the Career Center.
Highly Competitive Industry:
In many competitive industries, getting your foot-in-the-door can be the greatest challenge. Many college students start out with an organization by volunteering, completing an internship for academic credit, or simply working at the organization in another capacity to get their foot in the door. By interacting with others within an organization, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their interest and work ethic and thus prove that they will be a valuable as an intern. This is a form of networking from within an organization. That’s why volunteer positions may evolve into internships or even full-time jobs. For additional information or assistance, review the Career Center’s Networking webpage and meet with a Career Counselor.
Funding:
Of course, you may be able to find a position, but the employer may not have the funding to pay you. There are a variety of options that students may pursue in the situation. Some students choose to work another job for pay and volunteer for intern tasks within the organization. This job may be within the organization or at a separate organization. Other students, find funding from another source, to cover your expenses while interning. There are a variety of funding resources for Hopkins students, but it is important that you apply early, since many have fall or early spring deadlines. The Career Center has compiled a variety of resources about Funding Your Internship.

Making your own internship may seem daunting, but it is the process that works for most college students. The Career Center is here to help you navigate this process. If you have any questions or need any assistance, come in and meet with a Career Counselor.

Looking for an internship? Start here.

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Johns Hopkins Career Center
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