Module 7: Securing Internships and
other Firsthand Experience
AGENDA
 Identify reasons to earn and resources
for earning firsthand experience in
fields of interest, often called “informal
learning experiences”
 Learn about RCC’s various
i n t e r n s h i p / s k i ll s t r a i n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s
 Research Internet-based experiential
learning sites.
95 percent of employers
want their new hires to
have experience, and
nearly half of those prefer
students get that
experience through
internships
NACE Survey, 2007,
http://www.quintcareers.com/Quintessential_Careers_Press/Intern
ship_Guide
Benefits of Firsthand Experience





STUDENTS WILL EARN MORE MONEY WITH EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR
BELTS. NACE’S SURVEY SHOWS THAT THOSE STUDENTS WITH
EXPERIENCE START OUT AT 6.5% HIGHER WAGES.
STUDENTS MAY BE ABLE TO SECURE ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
STUDENTS WILL GET TO “TEST THE WATERS”, SO TO SPEAK OF THEIR
MAJOR AREA.
STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP EXCELLENT SKILLS, USEABLE IN MANY FUTURE
EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS.
STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP A FIRSTHAND UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FIELD
AND A CONFIDENCE FOR FUTURE INTERVIEWING AND WORK


STUDENTS WILL EXPAND THEIR NETWORK OF CONTACTS.
STUDENTS WILL SECURE EXPERIENCE TO CREATE A RICHER RESUME.
Reasons NOT to seek an internship or skills
training experience
 It doesn’t pay or pays very poorly and you absolutely
have to have income.
 The assigned tasks are not instructional or
developmental for you.
Resources for Firsthand Experience





INSTRUCTORS IN YOUR MAJOR AREA
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
CAREER/JOB FAIRS
RCC’S SKILLS TRAINING OFFICE (GRANTS PASS: 956-7027;
MEDFORD: 245-7629).
RCC’S COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE (CWE) PROGRAM (9567095)
Resources at RCC
 Occupational Skills Training
 Internship Listing at RCC

http://www.freecollegeclassifieds.com/Oregon/GrantsPass/RogueC
ommunityCollege/Jobs/Internships/index.htm
 Cooperative Work Experience
 Workforce and Apprenticeship Training
 Employment Skills Training
 Professional Skills Training

Grants Pass at 956-7027 or
Medford at 245-7629
Internet Sites for Internships
 1. MonsterTRAK
 2. InternJobs.com
 3. Internweb.com
 4. Internships.com
 5. Internships USA
 6. Experience.com
 7. Idealist.org
 8. Internships Abroad
Evaluating Skills Training or Internship Sites
 Research the Site



Learn as much about the site before committing.
This will help you decide whether a setting is a good fit
it will also make you a more knowledgeable interviewee.
 Talk to Former Interns/Knowledgeable Others


They can tell you about the quality of their experience in this site.
Talk to RCC’s coordinator who may have kept a record of others'
feedback or can provide you with the names of former participants
 Carefully Read the Training Position Description

While many job training experiences exist to nurture developing
learners, there are others which serve only to provide the employer
with cheap (or free) labor. Make sure you are going to get
what you need out of this experience.