JILL F. FOREST, M.A.ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES

CAREER AND COUNSELING CENTERSOUTHERN POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY

Experiential Education 101

“Give Yourself a Point”

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION MYTHS

AND REALITIES

It will be easier for me to get a job after graduation with work-related experience

Why Intern or Co-op?

Competition is tough – you want to stand out!

Companies strongly prefer candidates with

work- related experience The pay is good. Test your career choice. Linked-In recommendations

and reference letters

Internships Part-time or full-time, job related to

your major Be a full-time student when applying Have earned 24 hours of credit

(transfer credit does apply)

I can find an internship on my own.

You can but, you won’t have…

Access To The Career Link Database

Affiliation with our university (which is often required)

Email alerts about high demand internships

Networking opportunity with Career Services

I can apply for a Co-op my Senior

year.

I must have a declared major to be an

intern or co-op candidate.

Undergraduate Requirements

Registered, full-time student (half-time for summer) Must have declared a major 2.0 GPA or higher (most employers want higher) Completed 24+ semester hours towards a degree

(transfer hours count) Transfer students must have completed one

semester at SPSU and have an SPSU GPA (transfer GPA does not count)

You must have 3 full-time semesters remaining before graduation

to apply for a Co-op

Co-Ops Alternate periods of work and study Must be a full-time student when applying Must have earned 24 hours of credit (transfer

credits count) Must attend Co-op Orientation Full-time student status while working

Benefits of participating in co-op

Access To The Career Link Database

Resume referral – resume goes directly to recruiter

Possible tuition stipends and/or bonuses for good grades and possible housing (outside metro Atl)

Slightly higher chance of securing offer after rotations

Rotation with Summer 2014 start

Undergraduate Students

Summer 2014 work Fall 2014 school Spring 2015 work Summer 2015 school (part-time) Fall 2015 work

Co-op requirements done!

GRADUATE STUDENTS** Required to do 2 rotations

Name two requirements to be in

the Intern/Co-op program.

Internships are offered

year-round.

Internships are offered…

Full-time Summer Part-time Fall Part-time Spring Occasionally full-time during school year. Very flexible

All Career Fairs Are the Same

A Few Who Attended

Mohawk Industries Macy’s Systems and

Tech NCR Corporation Pond & Company CNN UPS Corporate Sherwin-Williams Southern Company Peace Corps The Home Depot Travelport

Meditech LexisNexis Kia Motors GA Tech Research Georgia Power Georgia Aquarium General Motors

2013-2014 Career Fairs

Fall Career Expo (at SPSU)Wednesday, October 12, 2013

Spring Career Expo (at SPSU)Wednesday, February 26, 2014 *GA Careers Consortium – Cobb Galleria Wednesday, November 11, 2013

*GACE College-to-Career Fair – Cobb GalleriaTuesday, April 15, 2014

Most Intern and Co-op

jobs are paid

Yes!

Unless the internship is for academic credit OR is in a non-profit field, you can expect to be paid

The best time to look for a Summer Internship is late Spring Semester

January/February is the time to apply for a Summer Internship

I don’t need to have my resume critiqued

is a marketing piece about you! Can and will rule you out if poorly

written!

Your resume…

Name one benefit of doing an Internship or

Co-op?

I can just “wing it” at a

job interview. It will all work out.

Don’t’ let your nerves get the best of you.

Feedback from SPSU Employers: Didn’t know anything about the

company Didn’t know anything about the

position Gave very short answers Dressed inappropriately

Mock Interviews & Workshops

CAREER SERVICES AT SPSU

www.spsu.edu/cccenter

Assist students with finding jobs

Full-time and Part-time

Jobs

Internship and Co-Op

JobsCareer Fairs

On-Campus Interviewing

SkillShops

CAREER AND COUNSELING CENTERJOE MACK WILSON STUDENT CENTER #A-170

678-915-7391JFOREST@SPSU.EDUWWW.SPSU.EDU/CCCENTER

Register with SPSU’s CAREER LINK

SPSU’s Jobs Database All jobs we receive are posted here! Part-time, full-time jobs, on-campus jobs **Co-Op and Internships