Location  |   Office Hours  |   Advising and Appointments  |   Our Staff  |   Events  |   Career Fairs  |   Sitemap

Career Services is for all students: freshman, sophomore,
junior, senior, and graduate level, at The University of Memphis.
Our Mission and Goals 

FOR:   Students  |  Employers  |  Alumni  |  Faculty

Explore: Internships  |   Job Search  |  Resources  |  Professional Dress and Etiquette

Student Guide > Getting Started With Internships and Job Search

Internships | eRecruiting | Web Resume Book
On-Campus Interviews | Employer Info

Internships and Experiential Education

The Internship Experience
As you graduate from The University of Memphis, you are about to enter a very competitive job market. There is no substitute for practical work experience to achieve this goal. Gaining practical, meaningful experience related to your career objectives will be essential to your success as a job candidate. Employers rate relevant work experience, as the most important criteria during the job selection process. In fact, 74% of all U.S. employers hire interns at some point. Internships are becoming increasingly popular each year. Ultimately, Career Services wants to make sure you are equipped with the necessary tools to land a job after graduation. Internship experiences will be an invaluable asset to you during the job search.

Did You Know...?

What is an Internship?
An internship is a practical work experience that is either directly related to your major field of study or career interest. Typically, you may work part-time during the fall or spring semester while you are enrolled in school or you may choose to work full time, taking a semester off from school. In addition, an internship may also be a six-month assignment. Keep in mind that, often, the internship time frame varies within industry and employers. This will be something to consider when conducting your internship search. We encourage you to be open to many possibilities.
What are other types of experiential education?

Co-Op: A cooperative education experience is generally completed by a student over more than one semester. It includes work assignments related to the participant’s academic and career interests. Co-Op students are almost always paid, and their work is considered productive to the employer. The typical program is for students to alternate terms of full-time classroom study with terms of full-time, discipline-related employment. Most co-op programs involve some sort of credit.

Practicum: A practicum is generally a one-time work or service experience done by a student as part of an academic class. Some practicums offer pay, but many do not. Almost all are done for academic credit.

Externships/Job Shadowing: An externship or job shadowing experience allows a student to spend between a day and seven weeks observing a professional on the job. Such experiences are unpaid. The experiences are usually not done for academic credit.

What is the Value of an Internship?
Career related work experience will be invaluable to you as you interview for full-time positions upon graduation. While typical student employment (not major or career related) such as on or off campus part-time work is good, there is no substitute for practical work experience. Practical work experience helps you become more focused and allows you to view a company or organization’s environment.

BENEFITS of Interning:

• Gaining experience in your field
• Making yourself more marketable during the recruiting process
• Earning money to pay for your education and living expense
• Learning about corporate culture
• Identifying specific interest areas in your field
• Becoming more knowledgeable about your field and more confident in your full-time job search
• Getting your foot in the door for possible full-time employment
• Gaining transferable skills which will add value to your full-time job search

How do I Learn More about Internship Opportunities?
First you must create a profile and upload your resume into eRecruiting. This will allow you to participate in on-campus interviews and receive target email messages about new internship resources and internships.
Be sure to attend the annual Career and Internship Expo each fall. Do not miss this opportunity to talk to employers who are seeking students for internships and full-time jobs. Have your resume prepared and reviewed by a CS professional prior to attending the Career and Internship Expo.
Take a look at the Summer Job and Internship Resources available for your use in our Career Library. There is an abundance of information about internships both nationally and internationally.

Check out the Internships-USA database, by contacting Career Services. Learn how to gain access to the site by using the University of Memphis ID and password. This database contains over 3,000 current internship listings and contact names by function and geographic region.

In addition to the Internships-USA website, also explore other Internship and Summer Job Opportunity Websites where you will find a wealth of websites leading to information about various types of career related work. Use the websites as a beginning point to conduct research on your desired career field.

Where else can I learn about Internships?
-- Be sure to check with your academic department and/or advisor for information and/or postings. Also check with them regarding academic credit for internships
-- By Networking! Discuss your internship search with friends, family, current/former employers, classmates, faculty members, and other contacts you can pursue. You may learn about internships through newspapers, newsletters, job fairs, work/study abroad programs, professional associations, student organizations, volunteer groups and many more…
-- Use the Web! Discover even more possibilities via the internet and web resources mentioned above.
Reminder: Be sure that your resume and cover letter are both complete and professional prior to researching and applying for internships.

---

Internship and Summer Job Opportunity Sites…

GET THAT GIG
www.Getthatgig.com

NEW YORK CITY INTERNSHIPS
www.bigapplehead.com

ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIPS
www.ecojobs.com

INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS
www.cdsintl.org

FEDERAL INTERNSHIPS
www.studentjobs.gov

---

Internship Timeline

Three Semesters Before Interning
- Talk with your Career Center to find out what internship resources are available on your campus.
- Write your Resume and Cover Letter.
- Decide what you would like to get out of your internship.
- Start Networking with everyone you know.
- Define where you would like to do your internship: City? Corporation? Industry?
- Start researching internship opportunities.

Two Semesters Before Interning
- Send out your resume and cover letter.
- Practice your interviewing skills and schedule a mock interview with your Career Center.

One Semester Before Interning
- Make sure your application is complete for each company where you like to intern. Double check for accuracy!
- Send thank you letters to employers who gave you the opportunity to interview.
- Decide on an internship that is best for you, and accept the internship offer.

---

From Campus to Career -- GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR JOB SEARCH

Why is CS using the Experience eRecruiting Network?
eRecruiting is a web-based information management system that allows the CS Office to effectively manage all resumes received by students/alumni who are seeking internships and employment. In a typical year, over 1,500 students and alumni register with CS and create a resume. Once these resumes are received from students/alumni, we can efficiently disseminate this information to employers for resume referral and on-campus interviews via eRecruiting. Between 3,000 and 7,000 referrals are completed each year through eRecruiting.

With the eRecruiting system, students/alumni can upload their resume in a web-based environment on any computer with Internet access. More importantly, registrants will gain optimum exposure to employers via the on-campus recruiting schedule and/or on-line resume referrals.

With this system, the CS Office can efficiently schedule on-campus interviews and allow employers instant access to qualified candidates registered with the system.

Through eRecruiting, students/alumni can upload their resume, view and sign up for on-campus interviews, find out about the internships and jobs for which the employers are interviewing on campus, view internship and job listings, and participate in Virtual Career Fairs sponsored by CS.

To access e-Recruiting, complete the following steps:

Click here to access e-Recruiting

NOTE: Detailed written instructions on accessing eRecruiting can be picked up in Wilder Tower. PLEASE keep your email address current on the system. Employers and CS staff will use email as a primary communication tool for information related to your job search. For a FREE email account go to: www.yahoo.com or www.hotmail.com.

Check eRecruiting frequently for news and updates on the campus recruiting schedule!

About On-line Resume Referrals
Many employers do not have the time or means to conduct on-campus interviews, so they rely on technology such as eRecruiting and other Internet sites to identify and contact job seekers. CS allows employers to perform their own resume searches on the Internet through eRecruiting.

Employers contact CS when they have available positions and request resumes of candidates fitting the requirements of those positions. The information you provide us through eRecruiting allows our staff and employers to sort through the resumes in an effective and efficient manner. By completing your information honestly and thoroughly, the system can be most effective in referring you as a candidate. eRecruiting matches codes from the Registration Information section to criteria selected by employers to identify resumes for positions they have available within their organization.

The eRecruiting system will allow you to store an unlimited number of resumes. This multiple resume capability will allow you to create a Career Objective that accurately describes what you would like to do in your career, and focus your skills, coursework, and experience towards a specific internship or employment area. You may use different resumes for different positions in order to sell yourself to a potential employer in an effective manner.

When to Get Started: Right Away!!
eRecruiting is a free service available for all students, freshman through graduate level. We encourage you to start building a resume as a first-year student for campus leadership positions, internships, Co-ops, and part-time employment. Each student should allow two semesters for on-campus interviewing during his/her senior year.

---

On-Campus Interviews
Over 1400 employers are invited to campus each year to recruit graduating students. The number of employers that accept our invitation depends on the national economy, as well as supply and demand for graduates in particular fields.

We host on-campus interviews during the fall and spring semesters. We do not have on-campus interviews during the summer, but we will have current internship/job listings throughout the year, which are available through eRecruiting. Additionally, employers call throughout the year for resume referrals , and can access your resume via the Internet.

During the on-campus recruiting season, monthly Interview Calendars are published to announce which recruiters are coming to campus. The On-campus Interview Calendar is available for viewing through eRecruiting.
In order to facilitate your employer research, many of the employers coming to campus have their own websites. These websites are linked to our website.

The On-Campus Interview calendars provide the following information:

· Employer Names
· Date(s) of Recruiting Visits
· Interview Request Deadlines
· Education/Degree Requirements
· A Brief Internship/Job Description

There is normally a very short amount of time from the beginning of the semester and the first scheduled interviews. We recommend that students review the On-Campus Recruiting Calendar within the first week of the semester to prevent missing great opportunities! Also remember to check the calendar regularly throughout the semester because companies are added to the schedule on an on-going basis.

Students interested in taking advantage of on-line resume referrals also should register early, because employers are looking at our resume database on an on-going basis, regardless of on-campus recruiting activities. As soon as you upload your resume to the e-Recruiting system, it will be available to literally hundreds of employers who contact U of M Career Services each year.

Important:
· It is your responsibility to complete your registration and resume on eRecruiting.
· It is your responsibility to access the On-Campus Interview Calendar through eRecruiting .
· It is your responsibility to check eRecruiting (we recommend you check it on a daily basis for updates) for interviews you have been offered by employers and to schedule your interview times. Invitations for pre-select interviews are posted as soon as an employer reviews resumes and selects students they would like to interview.
· It is your responsibility to give the CS Office 48-hour’s notice if you cannot attend a scheduled interview. Within the eRecruiting system, you will have an opportunity to cancel appointments before the 48-hour advance period. Students may do this within the designated “sign up” period with no penalty. After the sign up period, students must contact CS to cancel interviews they have scheduled.

Employer Information
Although the on-campus interview calendar gives details about the employer and the job requirements, more detailed information can be found by contacting the CS office.

In addition, employers recruiting on campus are requested to send brochures about the position and/or their organization prior to the interview date. Check with CS for literature on the company. You may also research the Business Reference Section of the library, check the internet, look through the employer literature housed in the CS office, and visit company websites.

---

Open Sign-Up/Pre-Select Interviews

Pre-Select Interviews
Most employers prefer to see students’ resumes before they come to campus and opt to pre-select candidates they want to interview. Students MUST be registered with the CS Office via eRecruiting for employers to view their resumes and subsequently, to interview on campus.

Open Sign-Up Interviews
Students meeting the degree requirements and date of graduation stated by the employer may sign up for open schedules. Open sign-up interview appointments are scheduled on a first come/first served basis. Sign ups for open interview schedules also occur through eRecruiting.

There is no limit to the number of on-campus interviews a student may request. However, do not sign up for interviews that you are not interested in to “test” your resume and interview skills. Students should remember that these are real interviews, and act accordingly. Students should prepare for the interview, dress appropriately, and be on time.

On-Campus Interviews: Alumni
Most campus recruiters are interested in interviewing graduating students for entry-level positions, and specifically request current-year seniors. The CS Office has an obligation to the employers to comply with their candidate specifications.

Some employers are interested in speaking with alumni as well as current students. If you are interested in an interview with a company coming to campus, check with the CS staff. We suggest that if an alumnus is interested in an employer that is coming to campus to recruit, the alumnus should forward a resume and a cover letter to the recruiter.

The letter should state that the candidate is seeking immediate employment, and the career area of interest. The candidate can indicate that he/she would like the opportunity to talk with the recruiter, whether on campus or at another convenient place for the recruiter. The candidate would then be notified by the recruiter if/when the recruiter would like to schedule an interview.

Please DO NOT CALL the recruiters to request an interview time. Alumni who are registered with e-Recruiting, will be added to the schedule if:
1) There is an open space.
2) The recruiter has given us authorization.
3) The recruiter has requested alumni as candidates.
4) The candidate meets appropriate degree qualifications specified by the employer.

CANCELLATION/NO-SHOW POLICY:

Organizations recruiting prospective employees at the University of Memphis invest time, money, and energy in coming to our campus. Submitting a resume and/or signing up for an interview represents a commitment on the part of the student.

Interview cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance of a scheduled appointment. A cancellation at any later time will be considered a no-show. Submitting a resume for consideration (pre-selecting) and then failing to sign up for an interview when selected by an employer also constitutes a no-show. Students should not submit a resume and/or sign up for an interview as a way of “testing” their resume or interview skills. Only sign up for interviews that are of interest.

Career Services reserves the right to remove students from interview schedules who arrive in inappropriate attire. Business professional attire is required for all interviews. Students who need assistance with resume writing, interview, or professional dress may schedule an advising appointment with a staff member.

If a student does not cancel and does not show up for a scheduled interview, a letter of apology to the recruiter, with a copy to the Director of Career Services, is required within five business days. Students will be required to meet with the Director for approval of their letter, and the decision will be made whether the student will be allowed to schedule further interviews. Access to e-Recruiting will be blocked for students who have no-showed, cancelled after the deadline, or failed to sign up for pre-select schedules and will be reinstated when the situation has been resolved.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in the immediate revocation of interviewing privileges through the Career Services Office. A student who accumulates three or more no shows, including late cancellations will have his/her on-campus interview privileges revoked.

Missing an interview appointment may mean that you lose an excellent career opportunity and it also keeps another student from meeting with that employer. No-shows harm the credibility of the Career Services office, and the reputation of the University of Memphis as well.