STEM Internships

Professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to a student’s field of study or career interest. Internships give students the opportunity for career exploration and development, and to learn new skills.
Many internships are paid!
OC Career Services’ Internships & Externships: Everything You Need To Know

They almost guarantee that you’ll transfer to university and graduate from university
They help students discover what they like and just as importantly, what they don’t like.
In the job search process, they set you apart from other students who do not have work experience.
Forbes’ The Importance of Internships and the Invaluable Relationships they Bring

Resume
1. The OC Career Center offers Resume Clinic Workshops for students throughout the year, and students can also schedule an appointment with the Job Placement Specialist. Email occareer@vcccd.edu with any questions.
Statement of Interest
1. This is not a time to be modest. Be sure to cover the following:
  - Who you are
  - Why you want the internship: What you hope to learn, personally and professionally & how this experience will help you
  - Why you are the best candidate: What skills, talents, and traits you have that set you apart
2. Review before submitting: Have someone read it out loud to you. Ask a faculty member, the Career Center, and/or WRTC tutors for feedback
3. Many applications will ask similar questions. It’s okay to reuse and adapt the same statement of interest or PIQs for different internships
Letters of Recommendation
1. Go to office hours, participate in class, and make relationships with faculty. This will make it much easier to ask them for a letter of recommendation when needed. Provide them with your resume, information about where you’re applying, the deadline, and how to turn it in. Be sure to ask a few weeks in advance to give them adequate time to write a well-written letter.

Paid 8–10-week summer internship at universities and colleges across the country in all areas of STEM and Social Sciences
Must be US Citizen/Permanent Resident
Benefits: Receive $5,000-$6,000, housing, and travel to/from site
Work closely with faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral mentors, and program coordinator
Participate in professional development workshops. Present final research project at poster session and oral symposium
Applications usually due each year at the end of January to mid-February

Browse 600+ different summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) and paid internships, programs that encourage community college applicants
How to find and apply to programs

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