UMUC

Career Services

Finding an Internship or Co-op

Learn more about finding an internship or Co-op. To help you along, we've provided answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.

  1. What is the difference between an internship and a co-op?

    Employers and students can be very confused about the difference between the two. In some cases, there is no difference. It really all depends on what employer you are talking to or what university you are attending. At UMUC you get university credit for doing a co-op and you have to enroll in the co-op program as well as a class. There is also an agreement between the university and the employer about what will be accomplished through the opportunity.

    You do not get credit for an internship and you do not have to do extra university work, but you get real world experience.

    Some employers, though, will call their program an internship program when it is really a co-op program because they want the student to get college credit and that is where some of the confusion can occur.

    Both internship and co-ops can be paid or unpaid. Even though the opportunity is be unpaid, you are getting valuable experience for when you graduate and possibly a job with the organization. Most employers hire look favorably on their co-ops or interns when they do hire.

  2. When should I consider doing a co-op or internship?

    At UMUC, you cannot do a co-op until you are at least a junior, but you can start an internship as early as your freshman year and, yes, some employers will take freshmen.

  3. Who should consider doing a co-op or internship?

    If you are in a situation where you do not have or need a full-time job or you have a job with a flexible schedule, then you should do a co-op or internship to gain experience while you take classes. If you are in a situation where you need a full-time job, then an internship or co-op is probably not for you unless it is a full-time internship and you are guaranteed a job when you graduate (the federal government does have these programs).

    Most of the time internships/co-ops are part time or are only for 3-4 months. If you are in a situation where you need a full-time job, then there are other ways UMUC Career Services can assist you. Please fill out our Talk to a Career Counselor form to schedule an appointment.

  4. How do I find a co-op or internship?

    Many students use online job databases to find an internship which is one possibility. The majority of the online job databases post internships and co-ops as well. You may also know of companies or federal programs that you can apply to. But the best way of finding a co-op or internship is tapping into the hidden internship market. Approximately only 25% of the available interships/co-ops available are publicized and the positions that are publicized have tons of applications so you are competing with many students. The hidden internship/co-op market is all of those opportunities that are not advertised.

    Most companies do not have an active internship/co-op program, but most of the time they have had an intern or co-op student. The companies just don't actively recruit for these positions but when approached by you with the idea many of them will realize they have the work that can be done by an intern or co-op student. So since you presented them with the idea they will bring you on without doing any outside recruiting (you will not have any competition from other students at UMUC or other universities).

    What you have to do as the student looking for the internship is compile a list of at least 30 companies of where you would like to work. Then call those companies and inquire about an internship/co-op opportunity. Normally, you will get interest from at least 2 out of every 10 companies you call. If they express interest, you immediately get their contact information and email them your resume. Then you must follow up with them regarding the opportunity in one week so they do not forget about you. The follow up is important because they will get busy and could possibly forget about you until it is too late.

  5. How do I identify the companies?

    There are many online databases that UMUC provides through its library that can help you identify companies in certain industries but some of the databases can be complicated to use. The easiest resource to use to start identifying companies is the online yellow pages. You can use www.superpages.com . Click on advanced search and then search by distance. Enter your area of interest or industry in the keyword search field and then your address then click search. It will return the companies within your distance range that relate your keyword. Now you just have to give the companies a call and ask to speak with the HR department.

Remember: Do not be afraid to call…the worse thing they can do is say no.

How to Find a Federal Internship

Many federal internships are posted on www.studentjobs.gov but not all of them. It is very important to visit the Web pages of the various agencies because you may find additional opportunities.

For further information on how to find a federal internship, please visit MakingtheDifference.org for more information regarding locating the internships that are not posted on usajobs.gov. Another good resource that lists a number of internships is http://www.watt.house.gov/constituentservices.asp?ARTICLE3305=3333

If you have additional questions and would like to speak with a Career Counselor, please fill out our Talk to a Career Counselor online form.