The University of New Orleans encourages all companies and organizations to sponsor and hire students for internships and cooperative education positions. To do so, it is important for hiring managers and recruiters to have an understanding of our student population. The University of New Orleans serves students in the greater New Orleans area as well as students from across the United States and even around the world. In many cases, our students work and attend school at the same time for financial reasons.. As such, the ability to participate in internships may be limited and students have declined to accept certain internship opportunities because of work and other commitments.
What is an internship?
An internship is an on-site work experience that is directly related to a student's field of study or career interest.
What are the benefits of having an intern?
Interns are typically highly motivated students who are equally motivated to produce high-quality work. They provide a cost-effective way to provide for staffing needs and develop managerial talent. Internships are an excellent way to increase a company's visibility on campus.
Do interns get paid?
Generally, minimum-wage law requires pay for most positions. Academic credit is not a substitute for pay. Salaries should reflect the nature of the work performed and typically vary from one field to another.
Is academic credit available?
Students may be able to arrange for academic credit through an academic department. Policies regarding payment for internships vary from college to college. Therefore, employers should not assume that academic credit will be available.
When are students available to intern?
Students are available to work throughout the entire year. During the academic year, students usually work part-time (generally less than 20 hours per week). Many students opt to intern in the summer on either a part-time or full-time basis.
How do I identify the best candidates?
Look beyond a student's major or class level. Consider how a student's overall profile and experience match the qualities, skills, and other requirements of the position.
What types of positions work best for UNO students?
Internships that are really part-time jobs generally work best for UNO students. Students will often forgo working in the mall or at a restaurant if they can make similar money at a position that may lead to a full-time job. Internships that last longer than one semester also allow students not to make decisions between the internship and working another job. Internships that pay are better received by students.
What about academic credit for internships?
The fulfillment of academic credit is a relationship that the employer, student and academic department will decide during the recruitment process. The UNO Counseling and Career Center makes no academic decisions regarding credits earned for internships gained by students.
Does a person's major really matter?
Probably the hardest part of hiring an intern is deciding on who should be hired and what major is appropriate for the position. If you need an intern to assist in your Public Relations department many employers will look to a Marketing major for that internship. However, an English major with great writing skills or even a Political Science major may have the skills required. With that in mind, many internships can be filled by students with a variety of majors. Of course, there are exceptions in the highly technical and scientific fields.
Cooperative Education in its truest form is a program that allows students to work a semester as a full-time employee while gaining release from classes at the institution. Students will work two rotations in the normal cooperative education format. Before a student is eligible for cooperative education, they must be a full-time student with a declared major and at least a 2.5 overall GPA. However, due to many factors including the economy, student profiles and a lack of cooperative education positions, not many students know that cooperative education exists or what it really is. Employers who allow a student to work 20 hours a week instead of the normal 40 hours and go to school will find much more interest in their cooperative education positions.
Please contact Adrienne Mustiful, PhD at 504-280-6225 with questions or if you require additional assistance. Please visit our Jobs Posting page when ready to post your position.
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