“How can I find an internship over the summer as a sophomore?”
– Nonny Okwelogu ‘15

Great question, Nonny! First of all, I want to let you know that it is not too late to find a summer internship as a sophomore! Sophomore year is an interesting time to be a student. This is the year when you are narrowing down your major choices and finding out what you really want to focus on during your future here at Princeton. Don’t limit yourself, per se, but take this year to really explore the range of opportunities open to you as a sophomore. You may find that many of your junior friends have already secured summer internships or are well on the path to securing one. Don’t let that discourage you. Career Services has many resources that will help you find an internship that fits you. Here are some resources here at Career Resources that you can utilize in your internship search!

• Attend the Summer Internship Fair/Nonprofit Fair on February 15, 2013, from 1-3 pm in the Frist Multipurpose room. There will be a host of companies in attendance that are looking for eager future interns such as yourself. This will be a great time to network with professionals and learn about opportunities that are available to you. Not sure how to prepare for the fair? Click here for a link to our website that can help you prepare for the fair!
• Create a profile on TigerTracks and start searching for internships there! TigerTracks is Princeton’s online system with current postings of internships, fellowships, and full-time jobs. Alumni and employers who are seeking candidates from Princeton are encouraged to post here.  In addition to searching for postings, you can research employers, upload and store application documents, apply for positions, and sign up for on campus interviews.  I encourage you to make the most of this tool!
• Sign up for an account on UCAN, a shared online system just for internships! Its postings are geographically diverse and include opportunities that you may not be able to find on TigerTracks. As someone seeking an internship, it is in your best interest to sign up today and start checking out the internships being posted.
• Check out the Finding an Internship webpage on the Career Services’ website. This page lists all the steps that you can take to really prepare for finding an internship. Some of the tips include:
  –  Identifying internship programs in a variety of industries
  –  Preparing a cover letter and resume
  –  Talking directly with employers
  –  Reaching out to and connecting with alumni…. and much more!
• Check out the resources by industry page of our website for specific links within your area of interest.  There are dozens of industries listed and hundreds of helpful resources.
• One of the most critical things that you should do is make an appointment with a career counselor as soon as possible. They can help you plan an internship search strategy that is specific to your needs. If you have a specific area of interest, try meeting with a career counselor who specializes in that area. For example, Abbey Racelis is our arts and nonprofit counselor, and can help you find out about opportunities available in these fields. Make sure you schedule an appointment online or call our office during normal business hours at 609-258-3325. Our counselors are here to help you no matter what step of the process you are in.

Nonny, I hope you found this information to be very useful. I wish you the best finding an internship! I know you can do it!