The Basics

What, why & how?

Internships provide a valuable opportunity for students to network and gain professional experiences within industries of interest before leaving MICA. ​

Internships help you identify your professional goals, and students who complete internships are more likely to find employment after graduation.

The Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development can help you identify appropriate opportunities in art and design fields. Students may receive 3 credits for a structured and approved internship, and gain up to 6 credits toward graduation. To seek credit for an experience, students must register their internship prior to their start date.

What should I expect?

Internship vs. Freelance
Are you supplying a service the internship site cannot provide, or learning from a professional with the proper expertise? 

Meaningful Tasks
You should be assigned projects that will teach you new skills and provide a clearer understanding of what it’s like to work in a specific industry. There should be a balance between meaningful learning experiences and menial tasks.
​
Internship vs. Freelance
Are you supplying a service the internship site cannot provide, or learning from a professional with the proper expertise? 
Meaningful Tasks
You should be assigned projects that will teach you new skills and provide a clearer understanding of what it’s like to work in a specific industry. There should be a balance between meaningful learning experiences and menial tasks.
RED FLAG: if a company requires you to use your own equipment or to work remotely, you should think twice about accepting the offer. What’s in it for you? Are you doing work solely for the benefit of the company?
Environment & Resources
​The organization should provide you with an on-site workstation and all required tools, equipment, technology, etc.  (cannot work remotely) 
 
Supervisor
Your supervisor should be a trained professional capable of completing the work you are asked to do. They should not be a family member, friend, fellow student, or faculty you are currently enrolled in a class with.

Guidance & Education
A supervisor’s job is to train you and be available to answer your questions. Remember, an internship is a learning experience, and the 

Communication​
Communication is key to a successful internship. Be sure you and your supervisor agree on the expectations of your work and ask for feedback. Do not be afraid to ask questions!

Whether you complete an internship for school credit or not, it is always a good idea to have something in writing outlining your internship experience - job description and timeline. Contracts are a great way to ensure you and your supervisor are in agreement with the work you will conduct during your time with them.​

internship myths

We have an approved list of internships

There are more opportunities out there than we could ever list in one place. You can intern with just about any company, organization, or individual that can fulfill our internship requirements.

You need experience to get an internship

Internships are often a student’s first job. You are not expected to have as much professional experience, that’s why you are seeking out an internship!

We will place you

Career Development does not place students into any positions. We can help you along the way and provide resources to aid you in your search.

You must start at the beginning of the semester

Many students find their internships mid-semester, and that’s okay! If you are seeking school credit follow our internship registration process to have your experience approved before you begin working.

Most internships are posted online

Quite often internships are not found online, especially those with individual artists or small organizations. Many MICA students arrange internships with sites who have never hosted an intern before.

You must get paid to receive credit

School credit is not a requirement for internships, unless you are an F-1 international student. Film & Video, Photography, and Curatorial Studies require an internship in their degree plan.

Unpaid internships are not worth your time

Unpaid experiences can be just as valuable as paid ones. Many internships with nonprofits are not paid given the nature of their work, but will provide professional contacts and experience you would not get in the classroom. 
*Be cautious of unpaid internships at for-profit companies that do not meet MICA’s internship requirements. Ensure you are benefiting from the experience, not simply providing a free service to an employer.

Opportunities

Research, Research, Research

​Before you start your search, think about your goals, and look for the internship that best fits your needs (values interests, geography, industry, etc). Think about timing, Most MICA students complete summer internships. While you research, think about fall and spring. Can you balance your schoolwork and an internship?

MICA Internship Blog

​Before you start your search, think about your goals, and look for the internship that best fits your needs (values interests, geography, industry, etc). Most MICA students complete summer internships. While you research, think about fall and spring. Can you balance your schoolwork and an internship?

MICAnetwork

MICAnetwork is our free online database listing opportunities from employers across the United States who are actively seeking to hire MICA students and alumni. Th​ere are a few tips and tricks that can help you use MICAnetwork most effectively.
​Job Agent
If you are interested in specific opportunities, set up the MICA Job Agent. First, perform a search with your desired modifiers, then click on “Email me New Jobs for this Search” and a “Job Agent” will be formed. Whenever an employer uploads a job based on your search modifiers, you will automatically receive an email to your MICA account about the job.
​Internship Histories
A database of intern histories can also be accessed through MICAnetwork. Simply click Resource Library in the left navigation, and then select Internships. //// You can browse our MICA Internship Blog to see companies that MICA students have interned at before, but ​

Internship + Career Fair

MICA’s annual Internship and Career Fair brings 50+ employers to campus every spring. Visit the MICA Internship and Career Fair blog for more information.

Competitive Internship Programs

It's important to keep in mind that competitive internships require extra time, planning and research. Many will have specific requirements. Generally, the more competitive, the earlier the deadline. 

Networking

Dont be intimidated, ​Networking just means getting out of your home, and meeting people who are working in or close to the field you are interested in.
By exchanging business cards and information, you have an arsenal of people you can go to when you need to start job searching. You can network by joining professional organizations, attending conferences, going to gallery shows, concerts, mix and mingles, theater shows, and openings. You never know who you will run into so you want to always be savvy when it comes to meeting people who could help you in the long run.

Utilize Who you Know

​The most effective way to find a job is to focus on building a network around your professional interests. So, tell everyone you know what you’re looking for. Ask friends, family and faculty! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 70% of all jobs are found through networking. This is a great way to uncover job opportunities that might not yet, or may never, be posted on job-sites.

Alumni, Faculty and Industry Professionals 

Approach alumni, faculty and other industry professionals as mentors. MICA alumni can be especially generous with their time and advice.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an informational interview to learn more about entering the field and industry tips — these people were once recent graduates in need of some guidance too. Consider joining professional organizations in your field or attending industry conferences to make new contacts and expand your network. Attend art openings and visiting artists’ lectures to stay updated on current events in the local art scene. Follow up with people you meet, especially if they have agreed to an informational interview. Sending a thank you note or follow up email to show your appreciation of their time to meet with you can go a long way.

Online Social Networking

Clean up any pre-existing social media profiles on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, etc. If an employer were to Google search your name, would they find embarrassing photos or information about you? Your online presence should be professional and reflect positively on your work and personal life.

linkedin

LinkedIn can be an invaluable research tool in finding out about career opportunities in your desired field, and to connect with alumni working in an industry or organization you want to learn about. 

​connect with MICA alumni - add links to MICA groups
Review the online tutorials to get the most of out LinkedIn. 

Making Contact

Guidelines

Create and maintain a database of employers to track your contents, dates of applications, responses and interviews. Use a cover letter to request a formal interview, or reach out via email to request an informational interview. Once you have made contact, be sure to follow up. Following up shows sincere interest and initiative. ​

Finally, if you are granted an interview, always send a thank you note and/or email!
Remember, find an actual person to address your materials to, be professional, and follow up!

How to Write a Cold Email

A cold email is not customized to the company, and generally you are sending it to a general company email. You want to first introduce yourself (name, year, major), why you are interested in applying, a brief synopsis of your skills, and a link to you website or reel. Most employers will not open an attached document from someone they do not know, as they might think its spam or a virus. So make sure your portfolio website is up to date.

netiquette

1. Keep the subject line professonal and relevant. Always use a formal greeting, especially if you do not know the person.
4. Keep it concise; break text into paragraphs and your email doesnt come across as dense or overwhelming.
2. Use spell check with professional language and standard capitalization. No emoticons and TXT abbreviations allowed!
5. Be careful to correspond using an email address you check regularly.
3. Be warm and friendly, thanking the person for their time.
6. Include a link to your website and your contact information at the end.
For more tips, see our nettiquette handout!

Preparation

Your professional package consists of several materials. Most commonly, you'll need to prepare a resume, cover letter and portfolio website. You can find many helpful resources at ​www.mica.edu/careerdevelopment.

professional package

Like it or not, the resumé is the first impression an employer has of you as an artist and as a professional. Click here to learn how to Indesign your Resumé.
The cover letter works together with your resume to introduce ‘you’ to potential employers. Click here to see our guide to writing great cover letters. 
You can showcase your work through MICA Portfolios, or a variety of other platforms. See our Website Website for a collection of helpful information on assembling your portfolio.  

Interview

See our Mastering the Interview Guide for tips on how to prepare for your upcoming interview.

​Additionally, sign up for a mock interview with an alumni or staff member to better prepare yourself for future interviews. You can expect a quick 10 minute interview followed by helpful feedback to get those nerves worked out before the big day. You will walk away with a list of sample questions and tips for giving outstanding answers. This event will also help students prepare for the Internship + Career Fair, where they may interview with employers and internship hosts. Registration is required, contact Career Development for more information. 

Accomodations

If you are looking for internships outside of your home town, it's important to think about where you will live during your stay. Check other college's website for off-campus housing lists, along with Craigslist and other housing search engines (varies by city). 
​
If you're planning on an internship in NYC, see our NYC Summer Housing Handout. 

Need some more help?

  1. Meet with Career Development!
  2. PCAS
  3. Counselors
  4. Drop In Hours
  5. Workshops - Link to Calendar