Handshake is a professional networking site specifically geared to college students. Students can find internship and job opportunities, get advice from other students, and build a public profile that can attract employers.  BSC faculty and staff have reviewed and approved over 3800 employers in the database.  All BSC students and alums can build a profile on Handshake and take advantage of the numerous resources available on the site.  

How do I build my Handshake profile?   

Six easy steps to set up your Handshake profile and access the resources:

1. Activate your account. When you set up your account you will indicate your career interests and the term you are looking for an opportunity.
2. Complete your profile. Students with completed profiles are five times more likely to receive messages from employers about specific jobs and internships.
3. Engage the Handshake network. Use the Q&A feature, peer messaging, and reviews to solicit advice and gather information so you can make informed decisions.
4. Review and update your profile. As participate in extracurricular activities, complete internships, or gain new skills, add these elements to your profile to attract employers.
5. Monitor your email. Handshake will send targeted emails to you based on your interests and activities, including internships, jobs, and events. 
6. Apply for internships and jobs. Make the leap and apply!

Students can intern during any term in their time at BSC.  During the fall and spring term, students typically intern for 10-15 hours per week.  During the summer and Exploration Terms, students can work full time or part time. Students can pursue an individualized learning contract to earn credit and gain valuable learning experience from their internship experience.  By receiving credit for the internship, the time spent at the agency and reflecting on the experiences at the worksite can be folded into your regular course load for a given term. 

How do I get an internship?

Landing the perfect internship will not follow a strict linear process: to be effective, you’ll need to keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities and regularly plan and connect with others. The sooner you start planning for your internship, the better.  The main activities to landing an internship include: meeting with faculty and staff at BSC to get advice; scanning Handshake and your networks for opportunities; shaping your resume for specific positions and applying; and drafting the learning contract with your faculty sponsor.

• Seek advice from faculty or staff. Make an appointment with staff in the Krulak Institute or Career Services to discuss your options and review your interests. Meet with a representative as early as possible, ideally early in the fall or spring term prior to when you hope to have an internship. Some opportunities require planning two terms in advance. You can schedule meetings using Handshake. 

• Scan for opportunities. Use your networks to identify options. Talk with faculty and staff at BSC, people you have met in the community, and spend time regularly scanning opportunities in the Handshake database. Generate a list and make initial contact to inquire about application timelines or specific expectations for interns at the organization. Reviewing opportunities will help you clarify your interests and what you hope to gain from the internship experience.  

• Shape your resume and apply. Update your resume and online profiles (e.g., Handshake and LinkedIn): emphasize your skills, relevant experiences, and aspirations. Solicit feedback and use tutorials to build a strong profile, and prepare for your interviews through mock interviews and other practice sessions. Tailor your resume for specific internships, then apply.

• Draft your learning contract. Work with a faculty sponsor (and your internship site, if possible) to craft a proposal for your learning contract so that you can earn credit. Your contract serves as the way to formalize your learning insights from the internship and ensures you earn academic credit for your work. Details about completing an individualized learning contract can be found here.

Multiple departments and offices have regular, ongoing internship opportunities for which you can either register or apply.  Many of these opportunities are offered during the regular term.  Some departments also offer internships opportunities during Exploration Term and the summer terms.  

How do I enroll in an internship course or project?  

Opportunities that receive course credit will be listed as options in Self-Service as part of regular registration.  Other opportunities, such as the Hess Fellows Advocacy and Anti-Poverty Internship Program, will be promoted through ENGAGE and elsewhere.  

• Fall, Spring, Summer Term Courses. The following departments offer internship courses during the fall, spring, and occasionally summer terms: Accounting, Architectural Studies, Business Administration, Media and Film Studies, and Urban Environmental Studies.  These courses are typically number 297 or 397 in the course schedule.  Check with individual departments to verify listings. Once you enroll in the course, contact the professor and a representative from the Krulak Institute to determine your specific internship site.   

• Exploration Term Projects. Other departments and programs offer internships during Exploration Term. The Departments of History and Religion have both offered regular Exploration Term internship opportunities, and pre-health students have multiple options. Check the Exploration Term Bulletin for these and other opportunities; you can also talk with your advisor and other department representatives. Contact the professor and meet with a representative from the Krulak Institute to enroll.
• Application-Only Internship Programs. The Krulak Institute offers the Hess Fellows Advocacy and Anti-Poverty Internships program.  Applications for this program open in November.  Find additional information here.

Thank you for your interest in hosting a BSC student intern!  The easiest way to make your internship or job opportunities available to BSC students is through Handshake, an online networking website specifically geared towards college students and BSC students in particular.  To get started with Handshake, contact staff in the Krulak Institute or Career Services.  They can assist you in developing your internship, developing a Handshake account, and posting your job or internship on Handshake. 

How do I get started?

Reach out to Krulak Institute staff to request a copy of our Employer Handbook. In the meantime, here are a few general tips to keep in mind when developing your internship:

• Use Handshake. All employers are encouraged to post on  Handshake. Contact BSC internship staff to receive a link for setting up your account.

• Think about start time. In most cases, for-credit internships follow BSC’s academic terms: fall term, Exploration Term, spring term, and summer term. When is the best time or term for you to offer an internship?

• Consider the time commitment. The Krulak Institute encourages students to earn credit for their internships. The amount of time students might be able to work will vary by term (see chart).   How much time per week is ideal for your internship? 

• Make it interesting. Internships are more appealing to students when they include complex tasks, often in collaboration with working professionals.  The internship is a learning opportunity for students where they can learn more about your industry and professional area of work.  What kind of challenging projects might students tackle with you?

As a faculty member, you can offer internships in one of two ways: develop a regular course or project, or sponsor a student with an individualized learning contract.  Internships provide students with a powerful way to extend their learning outside the classroom by working alongside practicing professionals.  

How do I develop an internship opportunity?  

• Identify the learning outcomes. Internships are primarily learning experiences. As such, start with the learning you want students to achieve as a result of their internship experience.  How will the internship extend and develop key concepts and practices in your areas of expertise? 

• Locate internship sites. The Krulak institute staff can assist you and your students in identifying relevant internship sites given your learning outcomes and interests. What sort of professional environment will provide the desired insights?

• Apply for funding. The Krulak Institute offers course development summer stipends for the development of internship courses. The provost office sends requests for proposals each spring.

• Develop a proposal or contract. For courses, complete the C&S course proposal form. For individualized student contracts, you will work with your student to complete the contract learning form.