Internship for Credit

Internship Overview

Track your hoursRecord your internship hours on the me sheet which is part of this package. All required paperwork must be turned in to the Internship Coordinator prior to star ng to count your hours. At least half of your hours must be completed in the semester you are registered for your internship.

• Students must submit me-sheets and evalua ons tothe Internship Coordinator by the end of the semesterin order to successfully complete their internship.

• Students must complete 200 hours for internship, 20hours are to be volunteer hours. Working with organi-za ons like - IIDEX, IDS, ARIDO, Habitat for Humanity

Evalua onsThe Internship Coordinator will survey each intern and intern sponsor to verify performance at the midterm and comple on of the term.

Evalua on RequirementsStudent interns must complete all requirements to receive a passing internship grade and receive credit.• Students must submit department specifi c internship

deliverables by provided due dates.• Students must submit internship evalua ons by the

provided due dates.

Develop a Cover Le er and ResumeThrough your professional development course sample cover le ers and resumes, access to career development tools should have been provided, review your notes as a reminder.

Develop Your Por olio

Develop a digital as well as a printable por olio showing all of your skill sets.

A end an Internship Workshop

It is recommended that you a end one of ARIDO’s Career Express workshops prior to your internship term. All infor-ma on can be found on the ARIDO website or contac ng the student membership commi ee member.

Finding an InternshipStart your search for an internship at least a month or two prior to the internship deadline. Faculty, Program Chair and Student Service as here as a resource but will not fi nd you an internship. Finding an internship is the student’s responsibility.

Sponsor Research

Research poten al sponsors. Speak with other students who have done internships with the companies you are looking at as well as throughly research the company’s website, publica ons. It is important to know all you can about the company’s where you plan to apply for intern-ship posi ons.

Contact SponsorsSubmit your cover le er, resume, and por olio when ap-proaching a poten al internship sponsors.

InterviewMany sponsors will require an interview, so treat this like a job interview. Bring your resume and por olio. Look and act professional. Discuss with your Professional Develop-ment instructor poten al interview techniques.

Paperwork

The Internship sponsor will need to sign the internship learning agreement prior to submi ng the form to the Internship Coordinator. • Students must submit the internship learning agree-

ment and the add/drop form to the Internship Coordi-nator by the semester Add period deadline in order to successfully register for their internship.

GuidanceThe Internship Coordinator will provide individual guid-ance at any me. Schedule an appointment to review your resume, por olio, or internship op ons suited to your interests.

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Internship for Credit

Sponsorship GuidelinesUnder the supervision of the Internship Coordinator stu-dents are carefully evaluated in order to facilitate the best possible student/sponsor connec on. The planned program of internship ac vi es must be approved by Academy of Design @ RCC. Appropriate tasks are required for comple- on of the internship course and must be approved by the

Internship Sponsor and Internship Coordinator before the student may begin logging hours.

Internships are tradi onally completed during a students fi nal terms, and may be approved earlier depending on scope.

Students will contact internship sponsors directly to express interest in an internship posi on and schedule an interview.

Academy of Design @ RCC requires that students work at least 200 contact hours. 20 hours of the total must be for a volunteer organiza on (IIDEX, IDS, ARIDO, Habitat for Humnaity, ect.) If you are not sure, please confi rm with your Internship Coordinator prior to commencing your Volunteer hours. The number of hours a student is available per week is determined by the needs of the sponsor and the avail-ability of the student’s me out of class. Generally, students work one to two days per week, for four to six hours a day. Interns may arrange to work addi onal hours outside their internship requirements for work experience.

Students pay for internship courses for credit and will receive academic credits towards their degree.

We ask that internship sponsors develop goals with the intern. In addi on Academy of Design @ RCC asks all spon-sors to monitor the interns work performance and sign the interns me-sheet.

Once an internship sponsor selects a student, that student is responsible for comple ng the required paperwork and submi ng it to the Internship Coordinator.

The Internship Coordinator will make arrangements with the sponsor and the intern to complete a survey at the approximate midterm during the semester. The interns performance and progress toward goals will be evaluated in the survey.

Academy of Design @ RCC requires all internship sponsors to complete a second evalua on form regarding the interns performance at the end of the semester. This form complet-ed digitally will be routed to the Internship Coordinator. The intern will also fi ll out an evalua on on the internship site and sponsor.

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AgreementStudent Informa on

Name:Address:City:Province:Postal Code:Phone:Email:Internship Schedule:Term Logging Internship:

Sponsor Informa on

Name:Title:Company Name:Address:City:Province:Postal Code:Phone:Email:Website:

Learning Objec veStudents shall complete this sec on. What do you hope to learn from this experience that will advance your understand-ing of coursework concepts? How does this internship contribute to your ability to enter a career in your chosen fi eld?

Internship Descrip onSponsor and student should complete this sec on together. Describe the nature of the posi on and du es, specifi c proj-ect, tasks.

Internship for Credit

Responsibili esI understand that if the Internship Coordinator does not receive my complete Internship Learning Agreement and a Add/Drop form by the last day of registra on for the semester I will be dropped from my internship and not receive class credit.

I understand that I need to complete a minimum of 30 internship contact hours per credit hour for a minimum of 90 hours for a three credit or 180 for a six credit in-ternship at the organiza on with whom I am interning.

I understand that at least half of my internship hours must be completed in the semester I am registered for the internship.

I understand that I will be represen ng Academy of Design @ RCC and will present myself in a professional manner.

I understand that in order to successfully complete my internship that the Internship Coordinator must receive my me-sheet (signed by my sponsor), midterm and fi nal evalua ons (completed by myself and sponsor by the deadlines provided) and my department specifi c requirements. If this paperwork is not received, I under-stand that I will receive either a failing grade resul ng in no credit earned, or an incomplete.

I have read and understand the informa on outlined in the Internship Overview, Internship Sponsor Guidelines, and my department specifi c internship requirements.

Should any diffi cul es arise with my internship, I will immediately discuss them with the Internship Coordina-tor. I understand that I must successfully complete my internship to receive class credit.

I have reviewed the Internship Sponsor Guidelines and verifi es that the internship posi on and du es, specif-ic projects, tasks meet the Academy of Design @ RCC internship criteria.

I agree to provide an orienta on, training, ongoing supervision and regular feedback to the intern.

I agree to comply with the Fair Labour Standards Act.

I agree to complete mid-term and fi nal wri en evalua- ons of the interns performance.

I agree to no fy the Internship Coordinator in a mely manner if any problems arise during the internship.

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Student Signature / Date Sponsor Signature / Date

Internship Coordinator Signature / Date

1 Recommending  materials  and  components  suitable  for  end  use  and  specifications2 Developing  sketches  for  conceptual  design  intent,  e.g.  elevations,  plans,  sections  or  original  product3 Drafting  plans,  either  manually  or  digitally4 Preparing  renderings  manually  or  digitally5 Space  planning6 Programming,  or  analyzing  the  sequencing  of  and  execution  of  plans7 Communication  and  cooperating  with  management  of  facilities8 Assisting  designers  with  design,  production  or  installation  tasks  and  responsibilities9 Site  measuring  /  site  survey  (e.g.  furniture  inventory)10 Organizing  and  compiling  materials  and  data  having  relevance  to  specific  designs11 Assisting  with  administrative  duties  pertaining  to  the  management  of  design,  production  processes  or  installations12 Calculating  costs  and  expenses  (budgets  and  estimates)V Volunteer  hours  (Community  Service)

Timesheet  Instructions:

Select  the  correct  sheet  to  use.    There  is  one  sheet  (tab)  per  week  of  the  term.    This  spreadsheet  will  total  all  your  hours  on  the  final  tab,  so  DO  NOT  DELETE  any  sheets.    If  your  hours  continue  past  the  last  tab,  fill  out  a  new  Weekly  Report/Timesheet.    If  you  need  more  lines,  use  the  "insert  row"  command.

Once  you  have  completed  your  total  of  200  hours  (180  intern  hours  and  20  volunetter  hours)  print  the  time  sheet  and  have  your  supervisor  sign  off  on  the  final  hours.  Scan/PDF  the  signature  page

Academy  of  Design Student:

DIDP420 Term:

COURSE  SECTION

Date Employer  Name Project  /  TaskActivity  Code Hours

Total  this  week: TOTALTotal  to  date:

Weekly  Report:

Internship  Supervisor  Signature  /  Date:

Volunteer  Supervisor  Signature  /  Date:

The  total  numbers  of  hours  on  this  page  should  be  200  (a  combined  totoal  of  180  intern  hours  and  20  volunteer  hours).

INTERNSHIP  FAQ:    1.  What  is  an  Internship?    

Prior  to  graduation,  all  Bachelor  of  Interior  Design  students  must  complete  a  minimum  of  200  hours  (180  hours  of  work  in  the  interior  design  field,  and  20  volunteer  “community  service”  hours).    An  internship  is  different  than  a  job.    A  job  is  a  work  situation,  where  you  are  paid  to  perform  a  service.    An  internship  is:    

a.  An  exchange  of  services  for  work  experience    b.  A  work  position  during  which  a  student  experiences  supervised  practical  training    c.  A  work  experience  in  which  students  set  clear  learning  objectives  that  connect  course  content  to  a  real  world  employment  setting,  where  students  build  professional  skills  and  networks.  

 2.  When  should  I  do  my  Internship?    

DIDP420  Internship  is  a  400  level  course.    At  this  stage  of  your  academic  career,  students  have  an  appropriate  level  of  skills  and  knowledge  to  contribute  meaningfully  to  design  projects  in  a  firm.    In  particular,  firms  usually  want  good  technology  skills  (AutoCAD  and  or  Revit).    We  suggest  students  begin  researching  possible  placements  as  early  as  possible.    If  you  find  a  placement  prior  enrolling  in  the  internship  course,  please  speak  to  the  Internship  Coordinator.    Students  may  receive  approval  to  register  for  Internship  before,  during,  or  after  securing  an  approved  intern  position,  based  on  the  specific  circumstances.  

 3.  Does  the  school  find  internships  for  the  students?    

Students  are  responsible  for  finding  a  suitable  employer  and  negotiating  an  internship  placement.    You  must  submit  your  completed  Internship  Agreement  to  the  internship  coordinator  for  approval.    If  your  proposed  internship  is  deemed  unsuitable,  you  will  not  receive  any  credit  for  your  work  and  or  volunteer  hours.    Make  sure  you  understand  what  does  and  does  not  count  as  internship  hours  before  you  agree  to  work  for  a  firm.    You  can  e-­‐mail  the  internship  coordinator  at  any  time  for  advice.  

 4.  What  kind  of  position  counts  for  Internship?    

To  qualify  for  credit,  your  internship  hours  must  meet  the  following  conditions:        

a.  All  hours  must  be  documented  on  your  timesheet,  complete  with  date,  experience  code,  and  supervisor’s  signature    b.  The  supervisor  who  signs  your  timesheets  is  not  required  to  be  a  registered  interior  designer  or  registered  architect.  However  they  should  be  considered  a  design  professional  and  be  well  versed  in  the  interior  design  body  of  knowledge.  If  you  are  intending  to  pursue  NCIDQ  certification,  only  hours  collected  under  a  registered  

architect  or  interior  designer  would  count  toward  NCIDQ  requirements.  For  additional  information  on  what  hours  quality  please  refer  to  the  Council  for  Interior  Design  Qualification  at  www.CIDQ.org    c.  20  hours  within  the  overall  internship  must  be  volunteer  hours.  These  hours  can  be  achieved  by  volunteering  your  time  to  many  organizations  (within  the  design  community),  such  as  –  IIDEX,  IDS,  ARIDO,  IDC,  and  Habitat  for  Humanity.  If  you  are  not  sure,  you  need  to  confirm  with  the  internship  coordinator  prior  to  commencing  any  volunteer  hours.    d.  Hours  will  only  be  counted  for  credit,  if  they  can  be  categorized  as  one  of  the  approved  internship  activities  codes.    e.  At  least  5  different  internship  activity  codes  must  appear  on  your  timesheet.  

 5.  Can  my  internship  be  in  another  country?    

Yes,  as  long  as  the  requirements  for  type  of  experience  and  supervisor  qualifications  are  met.    Contact  the  internship  coordinator  to  discuss  your  situation.  

 6.  Can  I  work  at  more  than  one  firm?    

You  can  complete  as  many  internship  and  volunteer  placements  as  you  want  or  need,  to  reach  your  total  goal  of  200  hours.    A  separate  sponsor  agreement  must  be  submitted  and  approved  for  each  placement.  

 7.  Do  I  have  to  finish  internship  in  a  single  term?    

No.    Each  situation  is  unique,  regardless  you  will  need  to  download  all  files  and  save  them  for  submission.  Internship  is  marked  as  a  “complete/incomplete”  or  “satisfactory/unsatisfactory”.  Only  once  all  required  tasks  have  been  approved  by  your  internship  coordinator  will  you  have  successfully  completed  the  internship  course.  

 8.  What  if  I  decide  to  work  full  time,  and  can  finish  200  hours  in  less  than  one  term?    

Yes.    9.  Can  previous  work  experience  count?    

It  depends.    Speak  to  the  internship  coordinator  to  see  if  the  experience  is  applicable.    Generally,  previous  work  experience  may  count  if:  

 a.  It  occurred  while  you  were  registered  in  the  Bachelor  of  Interior  Design  program  at  the  Academy  of  Design.  You  still  need  to  submit  the  Internship  Learning  Agreement  and  timesheets  –  make  sure  your  previous  employer  is  willing  to  fill  out  all  the  paperwork.  You  may  still  be  required  and  register  and  pay  for  DIDP420.    

b.  You  are  a  transfer  student  from  another  Bachelor  of  Interior  Design  Program,  and  have  previously  completed  an  internship  for  academic  credit.    You  need  to  apply  for  a  “Transfer  Credit”  for  DIDP420.    Submit  copies  of  all  the  internship  paperwork  you  filed  with  your  previous  academic  institution  to  the  internship  coordinator.    You  may  still  be  required  and  register  and  pay  for  DIDP420.    c.  You  are  an  online  student  currently  working  full  time  in  an  architectural  firm  or  interior  design  firm,  and  your  work  experience  to  date  satisfies  the  requirements  of  internship.    You  need  to  apply  for  a  “Proficiency  Credit”  –  contact  the  internship  coordinator  for  further  information.    You  may  still  be  required  and  register  and  pay  for  DIDP420.  

 10.  How  will  the  Internship  Coordinator  help  me  in  my  search  for  a  placement?    

You  can  make  an  appointment  for  a  one-­‐on-­‐one  review  of  your  portfolio  and  resume.    The  coordinator  can  also  advise  you  on  your  search  strategy,  and  make  suggestions  of  firms  you  can  approach  based  on  your  interests.  

 11.  Where  are  the  internship  job  postings?    

Occasionally,  firms  will  contact  the  school  if  they  are  looking  for  interns.    These  notices  are  posted  on  Webcampus.    From  “My  Courses”,  select  “Bachelor  of  Interior  Design”.    Scroll  to  Topic  7  “Internship  Overview”.    Click  on  the  “Internship  Job  Postings”  forum.    Also  keep  in  contact  with  your  internship  coordinator  as  well  as  career  services  for  potential  opportunities.  

 12.  Can  I  graduate,  if  I’ve  finished  all  my  coursework  but  haven’t  finished  my  internship  yet?    

No.    DIDP420  is  a  3-­‐credit  course  on  your  transcript,  and  must  be  completed  before  you  can  graduate.  

 13.  Do  I  get  paid?    

This  is  negotiated  between  you  and  the  firm  you  work  for.    Under  the  Ontario  Employment  Standards  Act,  because  you  are  receiving  academic  credit  for  your  work,  the  employer  is  not  required  to  pay  you.    Many  firms,  however,  do  choose  to  pay  their  interns.  

 14.  How  should  I  start  my  search  for  a  placement?    

First,  think  about  what  your  career  goals  and  personal  strengths  are.    Do  you  plan  to  focus  on  hospitality  or  corporate  projects?    Work  for  a  large  or  small  firm?    Speak  to  current  interns  about  their  placements  –  those  employers  might  be  willing  to  sponsor  another  student.  

       

COVER  LETTER  AND  RESUME  TIPS:    Cover  Letter:    Section  I  Introduction-­‐  A  few  brief  sentences  containing  the  following:  •   What  position  you’re  applying  for;  •   How  you  heard  about  the  position  (Mention  any  networking  connections  to  the  company  

you  have  or  research  you  have  conducted  on  the  company.)    Section  II  Body-­‐  Should  address  all  qualifications  mentioned  in  the  posting.  Use  examples  in  describing  the  

following  areas:  •   Education-­‐  Add  honors,  special  assignments  or  projects  •   Experience-­‐  List  all  employment,  freelance  and  volunteer  work  related  to  posting.  •   Remember  to  reference  any  “transferable”  skills  from  non-­‐related  employment.  •   Qualifications-­‐  Again,  add  transferable  skills  and  abilities  •   For  example:  “By  juggling  a  full  school  schedule  of  four  classes  per  term  and  working  part-­‐

time,  I  have  been  able  to  develop  great  time  management  abilities”.    Section  III  Closing-­‐  This  is  your  call  to  action:  •   Call  to  Action-­‐  When  you  will  call  or  follow-­‐up  •   Salary-­‐  If  salary  requirements  are  requested,  this  is  the  area  to  include  your  salary  range.  

Keep  location  and  duties  in  mind.  If  salary  history  is  requested  this  should  go  on  a  separate  sheet.  If  not  requested,  DO  NOT  mention  any  salary  requirements!  

•   Contact  Information-­‐  Mention  any  alternative  contact  information  (cell,  secondary  phone  line  and  e-­‐mail  address)  and  the  best  times  to  call  you.  

 Additional  Information  to  keep  in  mind:  •   Cover  letters  tell  a  story  where  resumes  present  an  outline.  •   Cover  letters  should  be  one  page  in  length  or  less.  A  cover  letter  contains  three  distinct  

sections.  The  “Body”  of  the  cover  letter  may  be  several  paragraphs  in  length.  •   If  a  particular  person  has  been  mentioned  as  a  contact,  make  sure  that  you  address  the  

cover  letter  to  that  individual.  If  no  contact  is  known  you  may  address  the  cover  letter  in  general  terms  such  as  “Dear  Hiring  Manager”.  Do  not  use  gender  specific  salutations  such  as  “Dear  Sir”  or  “Dear  Madame”.  Try  the  company  website  or  switchboard/general  phone  number  to  see  if  you  can  get  the  name  of  who  to  send  it  to,  or  at  least  the  Human  Resource  Manager’s  name.  Ask  for  and  verify  correct  spelling  and  gender  of  the  person  (if  confusing  like  “Chris”  or  “Jessie”,  names  that  could  be  a  man  or  a  woman,  for  example)  

•   Modify  and  personalize  the  cover  letter  for  every  job  posting.  •   Check  grammar  and  spelling  with  software  and  a  word-­‐by-­‐word  read  through.  •   Don’t  count  on  spell-­‐check.  Spell-­‐check  is  not  an  editor:  form  vs.  from  escapes  spellcheck,  

as  does  their  vs.  there  vs.  they’re,  among  countless  other  such  examples.        

Resume:    The  reality  is:  you  don’t  have  a  lot  of  time  to  impress  the  reader  as  they  spend  about  10  seconds  looking  at  each  resume.  You  have  to  make  a  great  first  impression  and  you  have  to  do  it  fast.      Use  action  verbs  instead  of  the  personal  pronoun:  •   For  example,  instead  of  writing,  “My  company  has  provided  me  with  5  years  of  experience  

developing  company  drawing  standards,”  say,  “Over  five  years’  experience  developing  drawing  standards  for  a  commercial  interior  design  company.”  

 Tailor  your  resume  for  each  opportunity:  •   Try  highlighting  key  achievements  and  qualifications  that  relate  specifically  to  the  

particular  position.  In  addition,  include  terms  you  find  in  the  job  description.    Don’t  overlook  the  little  things:  •   Even  if  design  is  your  focus,  a  resume  marred  by  typos,  misspellings  or  grammatical  

mistakes  sends  a  message  to  potential  employers  that  you  lack  attention  to  detail.    Experience:  •   It  is  important  to  show  a  steady  history  of  employment,  even  if  not  specifically  related  to  

interior  design.  •   If  you  don’t  have  much  work  experience  in  the  design  industry,  supplement  with  “relevant  

coursework”.  •   Relevant  Coursework  highlights  2  or  3  projects  from  your  studio  classes.  Write  

descriptions  of  the  project  and  how  the  skills  you’ve  learned  working  on  that  project  can  be  transferred  to  the  professional  work  place.  

•   For  example:  “Performed  an  as-­‐built  site  analysis  of  an  existing  building  and  converted  the  field  measurements  into  an  accurate  Revit  model  for  the  purpose  of  designing  an  adaptive  reuse  space.”  

       

PORTFOLIO  TIPS:    There  are  several  schools  of  thought  on  how  portfolios  can  be  organized.  The  end  goal  is  to  show  examples  of  all  the  work  an  interior  designer  is  expected  to  be  knowledgeable  of.  For  example:  •   Programming  (matrix,  bubble,  ideations)  •   Research  •   Diagramming  •   Sketching  •   Space  Planning  •   Design  Development  (floor  plans,  elevations,  sections,  RCP,  perspectives,  rendering,     specifications)  •   Detailing  •   Construction  Documents  •   Software  skill  (CAD,  Revit,  Adobe,  etc)      These  skills  can  be  shown  in  one  large  scope  project  (senior  thesis  for  example).  Or  they  can  be  shown  through  several  projects.  Either  way  these  are  the  skills  an  interior  designer  needs  to  be  knowledgeable  in,  and  they  should  be  demonstrated  in  your  final  portfolio.  Please  put  together  a  portfolio  document  that  show  you  are  capable  of  putting  all  these  skills  to  use  so  you'll  be  marketable  as  an  entry  level  employee  candidate.          

INTERVIEW  TIPS:      1.  Practice  If  you  friends  tell  you  that  you  talk  too  fast,  practice  slowing  down.  If  you’re  a  low  talker,  practice  taking  it  up  a  notch.  Recruit  a  friend  to  help  you  with  mock  interview  sessions  or  schedule  some  extra  informational  interviews  to  help  you  gain  confidence.  Remember  that  even  Olympic  gold  medalists  practice  daily!    

Do  a  dress  rehearsal!  Try  on  your  interview  ensemble  and  look  at  yourself  in  a  mirror  forwards,  backwards  and  sideways  to  be  sure  your  external  appearance  is  as  sharp  as  your  marketing  skills.  

 To  get  the  interview  rolling,  you  will  likely  be  asked  to  “tell  me  about  yourself”  or  “what  are  your  strengths  and  weaknesses”…  there’s  no  way  around  it.  The  only  way  I’ve  found  to  make  sure  my  pitch  is  perfect  is  to  write  it  out.  Put  all  the  words  on  the  page  and  move  them  around  until  you  have  a  few  sentences  that  hit  all  your  high  notes.  Then  share  it  with  a  few  trusted  advisors  to  make  sure  it  works.  Say  it  aloud  in  front  of  a  mirror.  Practice  does  in  fact  make  perfect.      2.  Be  Punctual  and  Polite  You  may  think  it  goes  without  saying  but  being  on  time  matters.  Even  if  you’re  typically  a  punctual  person,  allow  an  extra  60-­‐90  minutes  to  get  ready  and  travel  to  your  interview.  That  way  if  traffic  is  bad  or  you  spill  coffee  on  your  shirt  you  have  a  built-­‐in  buffer.      

Scout  out  a  nearby  coffee  shop  where  you  can  arrive  early  to  sit  quietly  and  collect  your  thoughts.  

 Upon  arrival,  turn  on  the  charm.  Make  small  talk  with  whoever  greets  you;  offer  a  firm  handshake;  make  appropriate  eye  contact;  express  gratitude;  ask  permission  to  take  a  seat…  dust  off  all  the  etiquette  you  ever  learned  and  apply  it  now.      3.  Pace  Yourself  Interviewing  can  be  a  nail-­‐biting,  nerve-­‐racking,  heart-­‐racing  experience  so  it’s  no  wonder  that  you’re  in  a  hurry  it  to  end.    Successful  interviewers  know  that  they  have  to  pace  themselves.  On  the  one  hand,  you  shouldn’t  appear  to  be  in  a  hurry  but  rather  as  if  the  interview  is  the  single  most  important  place  and  event  in  your  entire  week.  On  the  other,  if  your  interviewer  is  not  moving  things  along  and  you  fear  you  may  in  fact  run  out  of  time  before  you  can  effectively  make  your  case,  it’s  okay  to  politely  ask,  “How  are  we  doing  on  time?  I  want  to  be  sure  we  get  to  all  of  your  questions  and  I  have  prepared  a  couple  of  my  own  that  I  hope  to  ask.”      4.  Be  Prepared  Create  a  two-­‐column  chart  where  the  left  column  lists  out  the  requirements  as  written  in  the  job  description.  In  the  corresponding  right  column,  fill  in  your  relevant  experience,  skills  and  proof  points.          Complete  this  exercise  at  least  one  week  in  advance  of  your  interview.  This  gives  you  ample  time  to  track  down  any  missing  details,  plus  time  to  study  your  notes.  How  much  detail  is  enough?  Only  you  can  answer  that,  and  include  just  the  main  points  to  help  trigger  your  memory.    

 5.  Quiz  the  Questioner  The  next  step  in  your  interview  preparation  is  to  write  out  the  questions  you  want  to  ask  the  interviewer.  Yes,  really,  write  them  out.  Having  a  list  of  prepared  questions  shows  that  you  took  the  time  to  prepare,  that  you’re  thorough  and  aggressive.  It  sends  a  strong  signal  to  the  manager  that  you  are  serious  about  finding  the  right  job,  not  just  any  job.  Some  questions  are  those  that  uncover  important  aspects  of  the  job  that  don’t  normally  surface  during  the  interview  such  as:    •   Beyond  the  job  description,  what  are  your  expectations  for  this  hire?    •   Are  there  any  main  problems  that  need  immediate  attention?    •   What  are  the  established  guidelines  and  procedures  for  making  decisions  in  this     position?    •   What  would  the  extent  of  my  authority  be  in  carrying  out  the  responsibilities  of  this     position?    •   What  are  the  duties  of  the  position  or  a  typical  day  in  the  office?  •   What  do  they  think  it  will  take  to  be  successful  in  this  position?  •   Ask  to  take  a  tour  of  the  office…  •   How  performance  is  measured  (monthly  or  annual  performance  reviews)?  •   What  are  the  Software/hardware  requirements  of  the  job?  •   What  is  the  office/company  structure  (departments  or  multi  office  staff)?  •   What  is  the  typical  dress  code?  •   What  are  the  normal  office  hours  and  will  overtime  be  required?  •   How  long  the  interviewer  has  worked  for  the  company?  •   What  does  the  interviewer  enjoy  most  about  working  with  the  company?  •   Ask  when  an  appropriate  time  would  be  to  follow-­‐up  on  status  of  position?  •   Why  is  this  position  open?  •   What  is  the  next  step  in  the  hiring  process?  •   When  is  the  start  date?    6.  Closing  Statement  When  your  interview  winds  down  and  you’re  questions  are  answered,  be  prepared  to  take  control  of  the  conversation  with  a  strong  closing  statement.  In  your  closing  statement  you  want  to  express  your  desire  for  the  job,  recap  how  your  experience  and  skills  meet  the  job  specs,  and  inquire  about  next  steps.  If  you’re  feeling  bold,  you  can  ask  for  the  job  on  the  spot,  or  solicit  more  specific  feedback  with  this  question:  “Based  on  our  interview  today,  is  there  any  feedback  or  constructive  criticism  you  can  offer  to  improve  my  portfolio?”  If  the  interviewer  raises  any  issues,  be  prepared  to  address  them  on  the  spot.      7.  Follow-­‐Up  Promptly  Send  your  thank-­‐you  letters  within  24-­‐36  hours.  In  an  ideal  world  the  recruiter  or  hiring  manager  would  give  you  honest  feedback  and  explain  who  ultimately  got  the  job  and  why  but  that  is  a  rare  occurrence.      

If  you’re  able  to  solicit  feedback  on  your  interview  performance,  accept  it  graciously  then  pick  yourself  up,  dust  yourself  off  and  set  your  sights  on  landing  the  next  one.  

   

Nonverbal  Communications    A  study  done  at  UCLA  revealed  that  the  impact  of  a  performance  was  based  more  on  nonverbal  communication  than  on  the  words  used  or  voice  quality.  If  you  say  you  are  excited  about  the  prospect  of  working  for  this  company  but  don't  show  any  enthusiasm,  your  message  will  probably  fall  flat.  It’s  ok  to  smile  and  show  some  energy.    •   Eye  contact:  Look  the  interviewer  in  the  eye.  You  don't  want  to  stare,  as  this  shows  

aggression.  Occasionally,  and  nonchalantly,  glance  at  the  interviewer's  hand  as  he  is  speaking.  By  constantly  looking  around  the  room  while  you  are  talking,  you  convey  a  lack  of  confidence  or  discomfort  with  what  is  being  discussed.  

•   Your  hands:  Gesturing  or  talking  with  your  hands  is  very  natural.  Getting  carried  away  with  hand  gestures  can  be  distracting.  Also,  avoid  touching  your  mouth  while  talking.  Watch  yourself  in  a  mirror  while  talking  on  the  phone.  Chances  are  you  are  probably  using  some  of  the  same  gestures  in  an  interview.    

•   Don't  fidget:  There  is  nothing  worse  than  someone  playing  with  his  or  her  hair,  clicking  a  pen  top,  tapping  a  foot  or  unconsciously  touching  parts  of  the  body.    

•   Nerves:  Watch  out  for  nervous  words  that  have  no  value  ”um”  “so”  “like”  “you  know”  “such  as”  “and”  “well”  “so  on”  etc.  (also  could  be  nervous  laughter).  

 Preparing  what  you  have  to  say  is  important,  but  practicing  how  you  will  say  it  is  imperative.  The  nonverbal  message  can  speak  louder  than  the  verbal  message  you  are  sending.        

1

   

INTERNSHIP  SPONSOR  SURVEY:    This  evaluation  is  designed  to  help  our  students  assess  their  progress  and  determine  their  on-­‐site  performance.    The  evaluation  must  be  completed  by  the  Internship  Supervisor  and  returned  to  the  student  for  submission  to  the  internship  coordinator.    

What  are  the  student's  strengths?                        

                           

                           

                           

                           

                               

   In  which  areas  should  the  student  work  to  improve?                    

                           

                           

                           

                           

                             

   Overall  Impression                              

                             

                             

                             

                             

                             

                           

                             

                           

                             

                             

   Supervisor  Name  (Printed)                  

Supervisor  Signature                   Date