Read all 6 steps carefully. Step 3 may occur before Step 2 based on your class registration date and the date you select to meet with the internship coordinator.

 

Please note that students must have reliable transportation in order to intern.

Think through your interests and goals for internship (career goals). A good place to look is to use the "nearby" feature on Google maps to search for sites in your interest area and then check the site websites to see if you like the work they do. 

When you meet with the internship coordinator, be prepared with 3 specific sites you want to consider so that the internship coordinator can answer your questions and facilitate an introduction between you and your chosen site(s).

You must meet with the coordinator even if you've already been offered a placement at a site. Please note you cannot begin your fieldwork hours until the semester begins unless this is approved by your professor. 

Schedule your appointment early as internships fill quickly.  Meetings can be in person or through Zoom, but must be scheduled using the Calendly app. Zoom meetings must be requested 24 hours in advance. 

 Schedule an appointment

Come to the meeting prepared to discuss your availability (times when you are not taking classes or working at another job) for the upcoming semester. 

Please note that ONE missed meeting with the internship coordinator or ONE missed meeting/interview with an agency may result in disqualification from  internship/fieldwork.

Mark the date and time of your meeting in your calendar and arrive on time as meetings take the full 30 minutes. Use Calendly if you need to reschedule. 

Course registration is required in order to complete an academic internship. Register as soon as registration opens. Registration may occur BEFORE your scheduled internship meeting. You must complete all steps in timely manner in order to remain in the course.

Note that some of the courses require in-person meetings. If your class is meeting in person or synchronous online, you will find the class meeting times in Course Registration. 

Step 4a - Prepare for your First Contact with the Site

First impressions matter, and they begin the first time you make contact with an organization. Use a professional tone when communicating.

Please note that sites have different methods of preferred contact. If the internship coordinator introduces you by email, you can use this script to reply but make sure to personalize your response by telling the site what you saw on their website that interests you.

“Hi, my name is __________. I am a ___________ major/minor at Stockton University with a concentration in __________________. I am currently in my ______ year, and I am taking a field placement course which requires me to complete (# - see course info box in step 1) hours of service between (semester dates), which works out to approximately (# ) hours each week. My goal is to become a  _______________ (career). I am interested in (site name) because ________________ (be specific using information from the site's website). I think I would be a good for _____ (site name) because ____________ (courses you've taken or skills you have that connect with the site's needs). I look forward to hearing from you."

Please do not contact sites until you are introduced to our contact person.

It is recommended that you clean up your social media presence before applying to any sites. Some sites require interns to accept a friend request so that they can use your online presence as a character reference. 

Have your resume ready to send upon request. Here is link to an internship ready resume template that you may use.

 

Step 4b - Communication and Progress Updates

If you do not hear from someone at the site one week after you've initiated contact, follow up with a phone call to the site using the number provided to you by the internship coordinator.

Once you are in contact with the site, it is best to use email so that you have a record of the conversations. All offers of internship must be verified in writing.

You are responsible for sending updates to the internship coordinator every time you communicate with a site, schedule an interview, complete an interview, are offered a placement or are working on human resources (HR) paperwork. You can do that by emailing elyse.smith@stockton.edu.

If you are told the site is no longer accepting interns, please email Elyse Smith so the other students are not referred to the site.

Stay in contact with the internship coordinator throughout the process until you have completed all of the HR paperwork / onboarding (Step 5) for the site. 

 Step 4c - Interviewing

Click here for interview guidelines.

• Prepare by reviewing the agency's website to learn their mission and about their programming
• Professionalism for both Zoom and in-person interviews   - for Zoom interviews, find a quiet location, use a virtual background and log on 5 minutes early with a virtual background. For in-person interviews, arrive 5 minutes early. Dress professionally for both Zoom and in-person interviews. 
• Listen Carefully
• Ask Questions - it is important to know what you will be doing during the internship so that you can make an informed decision (see interview guidelines document for questions to ask).
• Thank the interviewer in person and follow up with a thank you email.
• Before accepting an internship, carefully consider the hours, location and job duties. If you do not want the internship, send a "no thank you" email.

Students may only intern at affiliated sites. Check with the internship coordinator to see if you are working with an unaffiliated site or a site that needs a renewed agreement. If so, send the information below to elyse.smith@stockton.edu ASAP:

1. The legal name and address of the site
2. The name, department, email and phone number of your site supervisor
3. The name and title of the agency representative authorized to sign the agreement

No part of the information listed above can be missing or incorrect. The internship / affiliation agreement process can take 2 weeks - 6 months depending on the agency. Please plan accordingly. 

Human Resources paperwork (onboarding) - Many agencies require background checks, immunizations, TB Test, drug screening, etc. YOU MUST ask the site for their requirements and follow their directions carefully. Complete this process 45 days BEFORE the start of the semester you plan to intern. 

Please note that sites are under no obligation to accept immunization waivers. 

Copy Elyse Richman Smith on your correspondence with the site so that she can keep your internship file updated.

Clearly communicate your availability to intern with the internship / field placement site (these are the hours when you are NOT in school, at work or involved in a sport or activity). Make sure to account for commute time when sharing your availability. Plan your hours around times you will be able to do meaningful work at the site.

Transportation to and from the site is your responsibility.

When you are on site or engaging in any communication with an organization, you are representing Stockton University. Professionalism is required.Once a site offers you a placement, please make your decision within one week to allow other student to move forward in the process. 

Elyse Richman Smith is available to advocate for you should you have any issues during the application process or internship. Email or call for support.