Internships
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s College of Business prepares its students not only for success within the classroom, but, most importantly, for success upon graduation. As the only business school in the region with an internship requirement, our students compliment their academic studies with practical business experiences sought after by today’s employers.
Internships are structured as learning opportunities that combine in-class theory with real-world applications. Through these professional internships, the College of Business connects students to employers both domestically and abroad.
For an organization, a College of Business intern can be a great asset. They can fill an immediate need or work on a project that has been on the back-burner for years.
Internship Qualification Criteria
A valid experience is an internship or co-op that requires skills and knowledge obtained from College of Business courses. These experiences can be obtained through employment, volunteer activities or project-based opportunities. Your position should be similar to an entry-level position for a College of Business graduate and tied to your career goals and/or major.
Criteria For An Experience To Be Defined As An Internship
To ensure that an experience is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship by the NACE definition, all the following criteria must be met:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
How is an internship different from a job?
While many students work a part-time job for personal finances, there are key differences between jobs and internships. An internship is a part of your academic program and should offer the opportunity to link classroom learning to the workplace environment. Internship activities should focus on responsibilities and projects specifically related to the student’s major of choice. An internship is a collaboration between an intern and supervisor where intentional learning goals are established to support the intern’s professional and career interests. The supervisor typically works in a mentor or coaching capacity to provide feedback and support the intern’s questions or concerns with assigned tasks.
Questions to consider when evaluating an internship opportunity:
- What advanced skills and knowledge are ESSENTIAL for this position? How will this position enhance my learning in the College of Business coursework?
- What responsibilities of this position require advanced coursework at an institution of higher education?
- What will I learn or experience from this internship that I haven’t had the opportunity to learn or experience yet?
- Who will provide supervision and training throughout the internship?
Positions that typically will NOT be considered a professional experience:
- Telemarketer
- Cashier
- Customer service representative
- Bank teller
- Community adviser
- Receptionist
- Waiter/host/bartender
- Point of sale representative
- Administrative assistant
- Sales floor personnel
- General laborer
- Brand ambassador
How to Find an Internship
Internship Search Strategies
An internship experience can be a key component in your post-graduation job search by giving you hands-on experience in your field. One can also help you solidify your choice of major and identify the right career path.
The steps to landing an internship are very similar to that of a full-time job. Below are methods and suggestions to guide you through the search process:
- Develop a resume and cover letter, all tailored to each position you apply for.
- Talk to the College of Business Internship Coordinator and your faculty advisor.
- Check the internship postings on Handshake.
- Attend job fairs and career workshops to network with prospective employers.
- Improve your interviewing skills by attending mock interviews or exploring Big Interview.
- Be active in your search by following up on any possible leads or applications you may have sent out.
- Alert family, friends, faculty and those in your network you are searching and include a copy of your resume and criteria for your search.
- If there is a specific company or organization that you are interested in, check their website or contact them directly about internship opportunities.
- Stay after class to talk to class speakers and guests about your interests in your field and their connections or opportunities.
How to Find an Internship
- Weekly Business Bulletin Email
- Throughout the academic year, the College of Business sends students an email every Monday with new internship opportunities and upcoming professional development events. Check to ensure this information isn’t going into spam/junk. If you are a pre-business student or admitted to the College but aren’t receiving this email, please email business@uwosh.edu
- Search Engines – there is no wrong way to search; here are some helpful tools
- Handshake
- Indeed
- Company website
Typical Internship Roles and Responsibilities
Click on a button below to learn more about a typical internships in your desired major:
Accounting Private
Accounting Public
Economics
Finance
Human Resources
Information Systems
Interactive Web Management
Marketing
Management
Non Profits
Sales
Supply Chain Management
ANNUAL DATA
Through this program, we collect student internship data from the academic year and provide resources and knowledge to current students, faculty, and corporate partners. 2022-2023 Internship Program Annual Report
Average Internship Hourly
Wage by Major
| MAJOR | HOURLY WAGE |
|---|---|
| Accounting | $20.52 |
| Accounting - Public | $24.79 |
| Accounting - Private | $17.67 |
| Economics | $19.16 |
| Finance | $18.19 |
| Human Resources | $17.55 |
| Information Systems | $18.15 |
| Interactive Web Management | $14.00 |
| Management | $17.53 |
| Marketing | $16.03 |
| Supply Chain Management | $19.09 |
| OVERALL AVERAGE | $17.99 |