An internship is one way to get job experience before you enter the “real”
workforce. Almost every training program for hotel and restaurant man- agers includes internships as part of its curriculum. Although there are basi- cally three types, all internships are designed as learning experiences, giving the intern exposure to an actual working environment. Internships can be one of the following:
1. paid—the intern receives a salary for his/her work
2. college—the intern is a student, and usually receives college credit for his/her work
3. summer—the intern is likely to be a student, who may or may not receive college credit
College internships may be the easiest to find, because your school will place you, or help place you, in one. They have relationships with the
restaurants and hotels that use interns and place students with them year after year. Those who offer internships may also look to hire students when they complete their courses of study. For a college internship, you may also have to attend a class with other interns, or prepare a journal detailing your work experience, or write a paper about it.
Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business requires stu- dents to accept two paid internships equaling 800 hours of on-the-job learn- ing during the undergraduate years. This requirement, easily arranged with on-campus support from the Student and Industry Resource Center, pro- vides not only important opportunities for professional and educational growth, but pays immediate dividends for potential job seekers. Employers frequently cite the internship program as their best means for pre-selecting future hires.
You may also get an internship at a resort or other vacation destination, either through your school or by applying directly. For instance, Walt Disney World offers paid internships for students enrolled in hotel and restaurant management degree programs (for more information, log onto their website: www.wdcollegeprogram.com). Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont offers its students internships at a variety of settings, such as nearby Bolton Valley Ski Resort and Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club in St. Thomas.
In addition, larger corporations in the hospitality industry offer paid internships to college students. Some even recruit students on campus for their programs. The Marriott International Internship provides an oppor- tunity to work in finance and accounting, banquets/catering, culinary arts, front office, housekeeping, human resources, restaurant/room service/
lounge, or sales. Top internees may also be selected to attend a three-day Student Leadership Summit, a conference that stresses problem solving skills, team building tactics, and the sharing of real life work experiences.
If your school does not provide help in finding internships, or does not offer credit for them, you can find one for yourself (such as Disney World’s, mentioned earlier). There are a number of ways in which you can uncover an opportunity, either during the summer, a semester off, or once you have graduated. If your school hires those working in the hospitality industry to teach some courses, consider enrolling in them. You may be able to make a contact or contacts that could lead to an internship. The Internet is also a
good source of information. There, you can learn about all stages of the internship experience, including identifying learning objectives, managing
“office politics,” self-monitoring and documentation, and how to use the internship to land a permanent job. Three sites that offer listings of intern- ships available nationwide are www.internships.com, www.internjobs.com, and www.vault.com.
The following books are also excellent resources:
America’s Top Internships, 2000 Edition. Mark Oldman (New York:
Princeton Review).
Internship Success.Marianne Ehrlich Green (New York: McGraw Hill, 1998).
Peterson’s 2000 Internships(Lawrenceville, NJ: Peterson’s Guides).
The Yale Daily News Guide to Internships 2000.John Anselmi (New York:
Kaplan).
When you locate specific internship opportunities, some of the questions you will want to ask include:
How many work hours are required to receive credit?
If applicable, how much does the internship pay?
Will you be graded for your work? If so, by a college professor or the person you work under at the company you intern for?
Do you have to arrange your own internship with the company or work through your school?
Does the internship program at your school also require you to attend classes, write a paper, or make a presentation to a faculty member in order to receive credit?
What will your responsibilities be on a day-to-day basis?
Who, within the company, will you be working for?
Will the internship provide real-world work experience that is directly related to your chosen field?
Will your participation in the internship provide you with networking opportunities?
Once you land an internship, consider it an audition for ultimately obtain- ing a full-time job. Always act professionally, ask questions, follow directions, display plenty of enthusiasm, volunteer to take on additional responsibilities, meet deadlines, and work closely with your boss/supervisor. Upon graduat- ing, make sure to highlight your internship work on your resume.
Having an internship on your resume will make you stand out to a recruiter for a number of reasons. First, it shows that you are already famil- iar with a professional environment and know what is expected of you.
Second, you have proven yourself through performance to a potential employer (you may want to get a letter of recommendation and include it with your resume). Third, you have shown that, after evaluating the realities of the job, you are still eager to pursue it. For all of the reasons detailed here, it makes great sense for you to get an internship. Claire Andrews, a director of programs at Casco Bay College in Portland, Maine, notes: