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Internship FAQs

Anytime! Either over the summer or during the academic year (typically just a semester). /intern when you’re ready—anytime from second semester of your first year to the summer after you graduate.

Anywhere! Check 12Twenty for the most up-to-date listings. If not listed there, check with the Internship Coordinator as well as directly with any local organization, island-wide, however, during the summer months, students can intern in their hometowns, in other states and even abroad.

Now! It’s never too early to start searching for possibilities. Most organizations accept applications on a rolling basis, unless specified otherwise. Being searching at least a semester before you’d like to intern. National deadlines for summer internships are quite early. Getting a head start with provide you with more options.

No! Advising and Career Development assists you every step of the way, but students and employers should choose each other. No employer is assigned an intern.

Sometimes! Internships can either be paid or unpaid. Employers determine whether or not the internship is paid. Regardless, the experience you receive is an invaluable form of payment for an internship. You can also qualify for the Pono Internship Fund.

Probably! Academic departments/professors in conjunction with the internship site will ultimately make this decision. It may be possible to receive academic credit for an internship, however, a handful of students participate for experience only. Should you desire academic credit toward your degree, meet first with your academic advisor to determine where you can fit your internship course into your schedule, based on class standing. You must also inquire with the professor teaching the internship course to ascertain their eligibility criteria for for-credit internships.

With yourself! Before you start searching for an internship, you need to set some goals for =yourself and evaluate what you want and need from an internship. Ask yourself these questions:

  • What are my career interests? What kind of work do I want to do?
  • What kind of organization or industry intrigues me?
  • What personal traits, skills or knowledge would I like to develop?
  • When can I fit an internship experience into my schedule?
  • Where am I willing or able to learn?
  • What are my income needs and transportation options?

Once you have done some goal setting, you are ready to begin the search process. A great place to start is with the Internship Coordinator at Advising and Career Development. We post all of the positions we hear about in our database, 12Twenty.

  • Develop a polished, error-free resume. The Internship Coordinator can assist you if needed. Call, email or schedule an appointment with an advisor in Advising and Career Development or through 12Twenty.
  • Write a cover letter if needed. A cover letter introduces your resume.
  • Get ready for an interview. If a company likes your resume, they will probably want to schedule an interview. The Internship Coordinator can assist with this (e.g. mock interviews), including sending you additional tips to prepare.
  • Follow up! If it’s been one to two weeks since you’ve applied or since the deadline passed, it’s okay to follow up politely with a note or phone call inquiring about the status of your application. You may also follow up with a thank you note. Once you receive an offer and decide to accept a position, it’s essential to follow up with the organization to let them know your plans. You also need to formally withdraw from any active searches when you have accepted a position.
  • Review steps for whether your internship is or isn’t for-credit.
  • Clarify expectations from your employer (i.e., confirm start date, hours, job responsibilities, business attire, supervisor, etc). It’d be great to get your agreement in writing.
  • Make the most of your experience! Take initiative, observe and learn, be professional, find and listen to your mentor, communicate respectfully, be a team play and have fun.

Schedule an appointment with the Internship Coordinator through your 12Twenty student account. You can also call, email or stop by Advising and Career Development office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM to schedule an appointment.