Employers: Post an internship
Students: Report your internship!
See pictures of interns on the job
The Wall Street Journal's A-List Internships
Comenius Scholars information
Calvin interns in the news

What is an internship?
Internships are monitored work experiences for students that include learning goals and reflection. Internships:
• may be part-time or full-time,
• may be paid or unpaid,
• last at least 10 weeks long and 10 hours per week,
• are available to all Calvin students who are sophomores or above,
• may be for academic credit (completed while taking an internship seminar course at Calvin) or non-credit (completed for experience only),
• are available fall, spring, and summer semester,
• are available to students from all majors offered at Calvin, and
• establish a balance between the intern's learning and the work that the organization needs done.

What is the advantage of an intern over a part-time employee?
Interns offer a variety of benefits. They:
• are highly motivated and interested in a career in your field of work,
• provide an effective and efficient tool for recuiting full-time hires, giving employers the opportunity to "test drive" an employee before making a long-term commitment,
• can complete project work for which you need extra brain power,
• connect employers with Calvin College and provide more exposure to your organization, and
• bring fresh ideas to the table.

What are the employers' responsibilities?
Employers agree to:
• provide a job description that is posted on an internal Web site for students to view (use this online form to submit your description or email it),
• contact Calvin when positions are filled,
• sign an internship agreement the first time they hire a Calvin intern,
• assign a mentor/supervisor to each intern, and
• participate in the for-credit intern's academic progress by completing a goal sheet, a mid-term visit, and a final evaluation as provided by the intern's professor.


How does a student get involved in Calvin's internship program?
In order to get involved in the Internship Program, you'll need to go through an hour long training process available on KnightVision. Once you've completed the training, you'll receive access to our listings of open internship positions. You'll also know how to create a resume and cover letter, interview like an expert, and find the internship that's right for you!

To access the internship training, log in to KnightVision, click on the Community tab, then the Self-Subscribed folder, choose INTRS-Student Internships Org, and click Enroll. Next, follow the training steps outlined on the main page, which include reading FAQs, watching short videos, and passing a quiz.

Why should a student pursue an internship?
• Explore a specific field of interest
• Determine if a career is a good fit
• Obtain practical experience to enhance a resume and improve skills
• Supplement theoretical learning with practical applications

Does internship work count for academic credit?
Students may participate in the internship program on a credit or non-credit basis. To receive credit, students must register for an internship seminar course (e.g. BUS 359, IDIS 380, ENGL 380, etc.). For-credit internships have academic requirements and students must complete a minimum number of work hours. Some summer course work is completed on-line.

Where do interns work? Most internships take place in West Michigan, but some summer experiences have been found in Chicago, New York, Boston, and throughout the United States. Previous placements include Alticor, Steelcase, Feyen-Zylstra, Varnum Law, Serendipity Publishing, Zondervan, Morgan Stanley and Founders Trust Bank, among many others.

How does a student find an internship?
Students are responsible for finding their own placements with the assistance of the Career Development Office. Students are encouraged to seek out internships at organizations in which they have an interest. They also can view a list of open internship positions after going through internship-related training available on KnightVision. To access the training, students should login to KnightVision, go to the Community tab, click on the Self-Subscribed folder, select INTRS, and click enroll. Follow the directions on that page to gain access to the list of open positions. The training includes watching several video clips (about networking, interviewing, resumes, etc), passing a quiz, and filling out an online application. The training takes approximately one hour and does not need to be completed at one time.

What is the Comenius Scholars Program?
Thanks to a grant from the McGregor Foundation, Calvin has established a paid, for-credit internship program for liberal arts students to intern in non-profit organizations. Similar to the federal work-study program, Calvin will pay 75% of the interns' wages, with the non-profit organization chipping in the other 25%. The first class of Comenius Scholars will be in the spring 2007. For more information, see the Comenius Scholars webpage.