Internships and Volunteer Opportunities

An internship is a short-term work experience with an employer in a career field of interest. It emphasizes learning on the job and provides a chance to observe the work, gain on-the-job experience and learn how you like the field.

Volunteering is the lending of your self for a service or duty free of compensation. There are many benefits of volunteering which can enrich your life and the lives of others. Many people want to know if and how volunteering can boost their resume or job search. Your resume represents you to a potential employer and you want it to stand out from the others. One way to capture the interest of an employer is to show that you are an involved citizen, someone who works to make the community a better place to live.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is an internship important?

Related experience is the number one factor employers use when hiring employees. Internships can offer actual hands-on experience in a field of interest.

How can you learn about internships?

Career Development has over 200 internship opportunities listed focusing on the following areas: Business, City/County, Communications, Cultural Arts, Education, Environment, Government, Health, International, Retail, and Social Services. We can also provide information on how to access the UW Seattle's Carlson Leadership Institutes internship database, which lists over 900 regional and national internship opportunities.

Can I create my own internship?

Definitely. Any organization in a field of interest to you is a candidate. Explore the organization, see where you might fit in best, and propose a plan to the employer and to your academic program.

Are internships paid?

Some are and some are not, but the key should be the value of the work experience provided.

Is academic credit possible?

In many cases students have received academic credit for their internships. Credit-bearing internships must be arranged through your academic department.

How can I incorporate volunteer work into my resume?

Even if you were not paid a salary and did not consider the volunteering to be "employment," it certainly was productive work and should count as "experience." The key is to translate what you gained from the volunteer activity into the language of the paid work world. Take the time to analyze what you learned as a volunteer and describe your activities and achievements fully, including your transferable skills.

What if I don't have prior experience?

If you don't have prior experience, volunteering is a great tool to build your resume. If you are a student seeking your first real job, being able to show volunteer work on a resume demonstrates that you had interests beyond the classroom. If you are returning to the paid work force after some time away, your volunteer activities prove that you kept yourself sharp and involved. If you want to change career fields, it may be your volunteer work in the new field that tells a prospective employer you're worth the risk, even if all your paid employment history is in some other field.

What are some other benefits to volunteering?

• Make important networking contacts
• Learn or develop skills
• Gain work experience
• Build self-esteem and self-confidence
• Feel needed and valued
• Make a difference in someone's life

Links

Local/ Regional

Governor's Internship Program

This program is intended to help state agencies attract bright, talented, and highly motivated students and state employees with a strong desire to work in public service. The program includes Undergraduate Internships that are from three to six months in duration and Executive Fellowships which are one to two years in duration.

Legislative Internship Program

Juniors and seniors are eligible for legislative session internships in the state Senate and House of Representatives. This program is a work-based education opportunity that provides college students with a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature's role, its process, and its participants.

Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma

Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Summer temporary employment program.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

University and science education program.

The Pipeline Project

Search through a database of volunteer opportunities located throughout the Seattle Public Schools and beyond.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Washington State Department of Personnel

Governor's Internship / Executive Fellowship Program Opportunities

United Way of Pierce County

National

Job Web

Internship database, articles, job listings and more.

Eco.org (Environmental Careers Organization)

ECO's mission is to protect and enhance the environment through the development of professionals, the promotion of careers, and the inspiration of individual action. This is accomplished through internships, career advice, career products, and research and consulting.

Frank Orth and Associates

Domestic Fisheries Observer Program.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Summer research for undergraduates.

Idealist.org

Enables you to register for personal email updates with new jobs, events, internships, volunteer opportunities and resources entered by any organization in Idealist in the last 24 hours. Able to search internship opportunities by country, state, city, and area of focus.

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

University of Virginia

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