Internships

Seven students sit in front of their laptops around a conference table, engaged in robust discussion.

Building experience is a vital component of career development and future success.

Internships: Overview

What is an Internship

An internship is a form of experiential learning that lets students gain real-world work experience that often directly relates to the student’s major field of study or their career interests. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and can be held throughout the year, though summer is the most popular time. Unlike regular jobs, internships are structured and education and exposure focused opportunities intended to benefit participating interns.

Search for Internships:

The Benefits of Internships

Internships are considered a high impact, high value activity due to the abundance of career benefits. Internships allow you to explore, gain experience, and build social capital in your field of interest. Through interning you can:

Gain work experience to build/augment to be competitive in your job search or further educational pursuits
Acquire and strengthen relevant technical and soft skills
Apply academic theory and knowledge gained from coursework to real-world situations
Earn money and/or academic credit
Explore career options and field of interest, first-hand
Help establish and grow your professional network

Why it matters: The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) notes that internship experience is a top factor in hiring decisions. Many employers use their internship programs to find future full-time staff – developing their talent pipeline by offering permanent job offers to intern.

What To Look For In An Internship

A well-structured internship program includes key elements such as:

Clear Timeline: A set duration and schedule – usually a semester or summer with specific part-time or full-time hours
Good Mentorship: Support from a dedicated staff member, structured projects, and resources needed to succeed
Career Growth: Meaningful work aligned with intern’s career interests, focused on skill-building and professional development
Feedback: Regular chances to check-in, review progress, and get formal feedback or performance evaluation
Compensation: Paid or unpaid (unpaid roles must follow FLSA/legal guidelines) and may include housing or transit assistance
Networking: Opportunities to connect with peers, explore different departments, and build professional network

Consider your personal needs and preferences and add them to this list. For example if you have a disability or want an employer with a stated commitment to DEIJB, then be sure to vet companies by those criteria.

It’s always good to ask. In some cases an employer that does not currently offer something that you want/need will make an exception or acquire the resources to fulfill your request.

Finding an Internship

The most effective way to find an internship is to leverage a variety of different search strategies. Handshake is one of the most prominent online platforms where employers list internships, you can access Handshake directly from Berkeley Career Engagement’s website.

Within Handshake you can view our Internship Listing Sites page or conduct a search using keywords (ex.”intern” or “internship”) to generate a list of opportunities that align with your needs and interests.

Networking is one of the most impactful ways to establish and advance your career. Networking events are a formal means of connecting and socializing to build your professional community. A great place to start is the @cal Career Network, a database of Cal alumni. You can also engage in self-directed networking by leveraging existing contacts like friends, family, current/former employers, classmates, and faculty members, to meet new people and expand your circle. You may also learn about internship openings through newspapers, newsletters, job fairs, work/study abroad programs, hometown contacts, professional associations, student organizations, trade magazines, community service/volunteer groups, and your major department office.

While there is a great deal of information available, you must be persistent in your internship search. Start early and seek out help from a career counselor. Have a plan that includes a great resume and cover letter, appropriate follow-up, and good record keeping. Be prepared, open-minded, flexible, and professional. It’s up to you to make all your contacts count!

The Academic Year
Your first year is not too soon to participate in an internship. Allow yourself at least one semester of academic study to adjust to the rigors of life at UC Berkeley. Then, depending on your major, GPA, and course load requirements, you may be ready to intern. Remember that your academic work is always your first priority.

The Calendar Year
Berkeley Career Engagement receives internship listings continually throughout the year, so there are always opportunities available. When deciding which time of year is best for you to intern, consider the recruiting cycle of employers in your desired industry and factor in your academic workload, transportation, your personal needs, and other commitments. Find the alignment and balance that will lead to optimal outcomes related to your performance and well-being.

When To Start Looking
Although most employers recruit heavily in the fall, recruiting cycles vary by company and industry. For example, employers in industries such as banking and professional services typically recruit in the early fall to fill internship positions for the following summer. Whereas, spring semester is still an active, and critical part of the recruiting season for employers in other industries.

As a rule of thumb, it’s advisable to begin your internship search at least one semester prior to your desired placement. The key consideration is to allow yourself ample time to respond to listed positions and to initiate contacts on your own as well. Lead time can give you a competitive edge when it comes to composing an effective cover letter and tailoring your resume to a desired internship.

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) is active during the Spring semester as many employers leverage this time to hire for summer internships. In addition to OCR, there are many employers looking to engage with students at our Internship & Summer Job Fair typically held in mid-February. Participating in both gives students a significant advantage in obtaining an offer for an internship or summer job. For additional information, check out the our On-Campus Interviewing page. If you still have questions, contact the Recruiting Office at (510) 642-0464, or by email at:recruit@berkeley.edu.

Summer internships are particularly challenging because of the limited amount of time involved and the high level of competition for them in the Bay Area. It is important to start your search early! Many of the larger organizations that offer summer internships begin listing them the previous Fall Semester. You can access all of the internships listed with Berkeley Career Engagement via Handshake. Additional opportunities can be found through the Cal Work Study program. During Spring Semester, attend job fairs (the Spring Career Fair, the Nonprofit/Public Service Career Fair, the Internship & Summer Job Fair), to meet recruiters with summer opportunities. Lastly, tell everyone you know what kind of summer internship you’re seeking. Networking helps

International students face additional considerations and complexities when it comes to internships. For helpful information, review the International Students section of our website. If you have additional questions, we have career counselors who can meet with you and offer further guidance. The Berkeley International Office is another great resource serving our international student body.

Some internships are paid and some are not. Internship salaries vary according to experience and skills required, year in school, type of position, type of employer, and location. For student jobs here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is not unusual to find positions of $20.00/hour and up (substantially higher for special skills and significant experience).

Academic Credit
When offering unpaid internships, employers may require that students receive academic credit in order to satisfy state and federal labor laws. You’ll find information about receiving academic credit for internships, on this page.

Talk to one of our Career Counselors if you need additional help with your job search.