Applying for internships out in the community? We can help!
This is a guide for students who are seeking an independent internship — near or far, any time of the year. Remember – you can get credit for an independent internship by enrolling in CAS 2991 A.
If you’re looking to complete an internship or community-based project within the framework of an existing class, you can look at our Communities of Practice, Semester-Away, Semester for Impact, Global Career Accelerator, and Community News Service programs, or by locating a department-level Service Learning, or Community-Engaged course.
Step 1: Update your materials
Reach out to the Career Center to get some advice, update your resume, cover letter, and more!
Explore Potential Career Pathways
Pathways to Promising Careers – take a look at the highest-paying professions in Vermont.
Step 2: Find an Internship Opportunity
Often this can be the toughest hurdle for students seeking an independent internship. Use these resources to find potential leads.
Search early and often!
Handshake
Handshake is the leading college-to-career network for more than 9M+ active students, at 1400+ universities nationwide, with over 650K employers recruiting – and growing. Get started on your search at the link below!
External Online Search Engines
One of the best ways to ensure you’re alerted to internships in your interest area is to set up alerts and save filters on job posting websites. That way, you can get notified immediately when something of interest pops up and get right to applying!
General Search Engines:
- Good Food Jobs – Jobs & internships in food systems.
- ZipRecruiter – Nationwide job & internship search site.
- Monster.com – Nationwide job & internship search site.
- Indeed.com – Nationwide job & internship search site.
- LinkedIn – Nationwide job & internship search site.
- Seven Days – Statewide job & internship search site.
- Vermont JobLink – Lists jobs & internships in Vermont. Run by the Vermont Department of Labor.
Subject-Specific Search Engines:
- Vermont.gov – Jobs & internships within the Vermont state government
- Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
- Common Good VT Jobs – Job board displaying part and full-time positions with VT Non-Profit organizations
- Environmental Career Opportunities
- Vermont State Parks
- Vermont Green Jobs
- EnvironmentalCareer.com
- SustainableBusiness.com
Step 3: Grow your network
Start making connections and getting your name out there!
Connect Directly with Alumni
Similar to LinkedIn – but specifically for UVM alums, students, faculty, and staff – UVM Connect is the best way to tap into a supportive and growing global network. It’s free & easy to join.
UVM Career Interest Groups
Interest Groups will help you build your network to help connect you to the opportunities, insights, and resources that support career success.
Join by activating your UVM Connect account and selecting your first group at log in. Join additional groups (as many as you like) using the left navigation bar – come and go as you please – there are no obligations.
Need help figuring out which group(s) are a good match for you? Use the matching quiz.
Join LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a useful tool to connect with peers, colleagues, and other professionals in your field. LinkedIn allows you to craft a personalized bio to inform people who come across your profile what you’re up to, what your work history is, any accolades you’ve received, and more! Oftentimes, recruiters or former colleagues can use this as a way to connect with you about new opportunities or prospects. Join now for free and start building your profile!
Top tip: If a company doesn’t have an internship position listed on a job board, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t need help!
Take a look at our lists of previous internship sites for inspiration or to see if they have info on their current internships >>
See Step 4 (below) for tips on how to reach out to organizations about potential opportunities.
Arts, Media & Communication
Business & Entrepreneurship
| BETA Technologies (VT) | Brandthropology (VT) |
| Burlington Business Association (VT) | Cabot Community Association (VT) |
| Donahue & Associates (VT) | Emerge Massachusetts (MA) |
| Essex Resort & Spa (VT) | Global Foundries (VT and elsewhere) |
| JP Morgan Chase (NYC and elsewhere) | Keurig / Green Mountain Coffee (VT) |
| KSV Agency (VT) | Merrill Lynch Advisors (VT) |
| National Life Group (VT) | Northeast Kingdom Online (VT) |
| Raytheon (MA) | Seventh Generation / Unilever (VT and elsewhere) |
| UVM: Dining, Athletics, Emergency Management, and more! | Vermont Biz (VT) |
| Vermont Business Roundtable (VT) | Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VT) |
| Vermont Human Resources Association (VT) | Vermont Lake Monsters (VT) |
| VT Commercial (VT) | Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VT) |
| Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VT) | Vermont Brewers Association (VT) |
| Workiva (Remote) | Zatz and Renfrew Consulting (VT) |
Education, Policy & Social Impact
Food, Environment & Sustainability
Health Professions
| American Red Cross (VT and elsewhere) | Alzheimer’s Association (VT chapter) |
| Burlington Health & Rehab Center (Genesis) (VT) | Cathedral Square (VT) |
| Center for Health and Learning (VT) | Dynamic Strength and Conditioning (VT) |
| Earth Rhythm Herbal (VT) | The Howard Center (VT) |
| Journey (remote) | Living Well Group (VT) |
| Larner College of Medicine (UVM) | Planned Parenthood (VT and elsewhere) |
| Turning Point Center (VT) | University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM) |
| Vermont Cancer Support Network (VT) | Vermont Department of Health (VT) |
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
| BETA Technologies (VT) | The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (MD) |
| Mayo Clinic (MN) | Raytheon (MA) |
| Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (IL) | UVM Department of Physics |
| UVM Rubenstein Lab | UVM Todd Lab |
| UVM Pespeni Lab | UVM Biology Department |
| Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VT) | UVM Wildlife Ecology Research Lab |
Step 4: Make contact
Here are some tips for you as you start to reach out to potential internship sites–especially if the internship position you are looking for is not listed on a job or internship search site:
- Develop a strong pitch: Describe yourself, your skills, and goals; be brief, sincere, and memorable.
- Instead of asking for “an internship” ask them if you can help out with their most recent project. If asked for an internship, employers will often respond with a “no” if they don’t have a program already set up. But by crafting your own position or offering your expertise, employers can better envision you as a part of their team!
- Mention that you are involved with the CAS Internship Program and that you will have a faculty mentor to support you and your potential supervisor or co-workers at the internship site. Feel free to include your faculty’s or the cas.internships@uvm.edu email address in your email so the organization can follow up with questions.
- If you are looking for a summer opportunity, mention that you will be applying for funding from UVM to help support you while you do an unpaid opportunity (this funding is not guaranteed) – so being paid is not a necessity. In this economic climate, this can help relieve the burden on organizations you hope to work with.
Not sure who to reach out to at a potential internship site? Check out the Career Center’s networking guide for some tips!
As always, when applying for a position online, do not give out personal information (beyond your basic contact information) and don’t agree to anything that makes you uncomfortable. If offered an interview, make sure that it takes place at the business’s office or at a public place (like Starbucks). If you are worried about the authenticity of any job posting, stop, and get in touch with the Career Center so that they can help you validate it.
Step 5: Set yourself up for success
Once you’ve landed an internship, check out our Intern Resources page to get advice on how to make the best of your experience.
Still have questions?
Email cas.interships@uvm.edu — our team would be happy to assist.
