Office of Admissions

A group of alumni and current international students from the Harris School of Public Policy sat down recently to share some insights and advice about successfully navigating internships in United States-based organizations. While their comments were mostly to help international students, we feel that their advice can benefit everyone looking to land an internship over the summer. Here’s what you need to know.

Know your stuff:

Being comfortable in Stata is an asset. Not everyone in your internship sphere may be able to offer the skills you have gained from Harris, so use that to your advantage.

Prove yourself and your skills. No one will give you a free ticket, you have to make your own way.

Previous accomplishments have less impact than you think. No matter how impressive your resume is right now, the most important thing to your employer is what value and skills you bring to the company during your internship.

Speak up:

Don't be afraid to ask for the projects you want. The worst that could happen is that they will say is no.

Explain how your skills/experiences translate into benefits for the employer. They will not go looking for this information so it is up to you to make sure they know all you have to offer.

Participate in meetings. You were brought in to the company to share your ideas.

Stand out:

Own your cultural differences. Many organizations and teams appreciate what value you will bring to their teams.

Get some face time. Don’t be afraid to ask for a meeting with the senior managers. Whether it is a chat over coffee about career goals, or seeking perspective on a topic you feel passionate about, getting that one-on-one time can build long-term connections for the future. Just remember, ask politely and be respectful of their time if they agree.

Try something new:

Experiment. Step outside your comfort zone, you may just like it! This is a finite moment where you have the safety of trying out something completely new without a long-term commitment.

Be curious. Ask a lot of questions and get out there and meet people.

Build your professional network:

Internships can help you build connections. If you impress the right people, you can turn that connection into a full-time offer for employment.

Invest time in developing a network of people who will share future job opportunities. Having multiple eyes on the market at once will give you a greater advantage.

Move quickly when you hear about an opportunity. Leverage your contacts and people you know at Harris to learn about opportunities that might not be public or highly visible. The job market moves fast, so you will need to as well.

Be mindful and proactive:

Try to understand the company culture. Environments in organizations vary, even from office to office within a larger organization. Some environments can be rigid, others can be more relaxed.

Know your limitations. Be proactive in improving skills and asking questions, but know when you need to ask for help.

Keep your eye on the prize. Don’t focus on who you will be next week or next month. Instead, reflect on who you were five, 10, or even 20 years ago. Celebrate how far you've come before worrying about how far you need to go.

Learn more:

We have additional information about internship opportunities at Harris, including how current students can fund an unpaid internship in the nonprofit and public sectors, on our Internships and Funding web page. You can also email questions to our Career Development Office.

Check out our video: The Harris Internship Experience.

And keep an eye on the blog over the summer for our Summer Internship Series, where students will share personal experiences about their internships and the types of projects they are working on.

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