Home > Students > Find an Internship

What Are Internships?

Internships are a form of experiential education. They allow you to explore a career path and get exposure to a specific industry while gaining valuable skills and experience. Internships can vary in length from a year, to a semester, to a summer, or even a few weeks.

Employers use internships to find and train future employees. Some competitive fields can be closed to applicants without this kind of prior experience. Photo: A recent Hopkins intern at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Start Looking Now

Students that are successful in finding internships start looking early. In a recent survey, 58% of Hopkins students reported that they started looking for summer internships during the fall semester or in early January.

Internships with the Federal Government, internships that require outside funding, and international internships, usually have deadlines during the Fall semester, so start looking now.

Other Ways to Get Experience

In addition to internships, there are many other great ways for Hopkins students to learn more about potential careers and developing the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to be successful.

• Research
  Hopkins has many research opportunities available to undergraduate students in all disciplines, but students must be strategic in their search. For tips on how to find research opportunities, check out the the Career Center's handout about Getting Involved in Research (pdf).
  
  The Hopkins Biology Department also has excellent tips in their Undergraduate Research section on how to find research opportunities at Hopkins.
  
  
• Part-time jobs
  Part-time jobs are a great way to demonstrate your work ethic and gain exposure to a workplace environment while earning money. Check Student Employment for opportunities on and off campus.
  
  
• Extracurricular Activities and Community Service
  Employers and graduate schools expect you to demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills outside the classroom. The best way to develop and hone those skills is by getting involved in many of the activities available through the office of Student Involvement and the Center for Social Concern.
  

Relevant Handouts

• Learn About Yourself
• Set Your Goals and Research
  Careers
• Resumes, Cover Letters,
  and Other Documents