Looking for an Internship
< Design

Many School of Design graduate students do an internship the summer after their first year. Some students find it easy to look for an internship; others are less certain as to how to proceed. Some students apply for existing/ongoing internships that are advertised by employers. Other students initiate contact with an employer and create their own internships.

The following are steps you can take to obtain an internship.

I. Get your resume ready.

Click here for advice on writing your resume and to look at sample resumes

II. Identify internship possibilities.

Register in PennLink and check it regularly. (If you registered in PennLink prior to July 2006, you need to re-register as it has been upgraded.) Set up “agents” to notify you when internships in your area have been posted. Many employers interested in hiring PennDesign students post full-time positions and internships on PennLink.

Sign up to be added to the Grad Design Career Information e-mail listserv. You will receive information from Career Services on full-time and part-time positions, internships, and workshops and programs.

Look at the School of Design Employer/Alumni database. Identify employers that interest you and contact them.

• You can limit your search by work type or geographic area.
• To perform an "intern" search:
  • Enter "intern" in the keyword or phrase field.
  • For easier reading, choose only PennDesign Students Hired, Jobs posted with Career Services, and Comments in the Display Format box

On the Career Services School of Design webpage and read the information at both: Advice from Your Peers Internships Held by PennDesign Students

Network – this is really important! Talk with more advanced students in your department and find out where they interned. When you meet professionals through your workshops or studios whose work interests you, talk with them about possible internships.

III. Once you have identified firms or organizations that interest you, write them a cover letter (or e-mail) to send with your resume.

Click here for advice on writing cover letters and to look at sample cover letters. Look at employer websites when you write cover letters so you can target your letter.

IV. When should you start looking for a summer internship?

You can start early but many employers won’t know if they’ll have an internship until close to summer. Participate in the online resume book (deadline in February). Attend PennDesign Career Connection Day, the annual career fair which is held in the spring.

Most PennDesign students find summer internships and have satisfying experiences with employers. It’s important to know that you -- and only you -- are responsible for your internship search. The cover letter and resume writing, interviewing and networking skills that you develop while searching for your internship will serve you well throughout the course of your professional life.