Research Internships Through Campus Resources, Personal Contacts, and Public Information
When Kevin Tzaka was researching potential internship opportunities, the University of Rochester Simon Business School student relied heavily on networking with school friends and former interns to get the lowdown on the cultural fit of various employers.
Those 20- and 30-minute chats “gave me a better idea if I would be a fit or not,” said Tzaka, from Queens, N.Y. His research resulted in a three-month summer internship at IT solutions provider ServiceNow, based in New York City. Tzaka will graduate in 2025 with an MBA.
“I think that’s a better way [to research employers] than just looking on the internet,” he said.
Consider, too, talking with faculty and others to see if they have connections with anyone you could contact to hear about their experiences with various companies. Tzaka’s family is made up of first-generation immigrants from Albania, so he leveraged his school network for insight into the work/life balance, training opportunities, and pace of the work environment at companies that interested him.
“Researching organizations?is an integral part of your job search process,” the Columbia University Center for Career Education says on its website, “whether you’re exploring options or preparing for an upcoming event or interview.”
That’s also true for identifying internships, and there is a wealth of resources that students can leverage.