Student Information
We recommend that all students who are interested in pursuing an internship take intentional steps to plan. Many employers only hire interns once per year, and if you are planning on receiving academic credit, you will need to keep track of both application deadlines for the organization and the college. Do I need an internship?
Do I need an internship?
Some programs, including Associate’s, Bachelor’s and certificate programs, at North Seattle College require completion of an internship as part of their graduation plan. Many students choose to complete an internship, even if it is not required, to gain additional work experience in their intended career field. Paid or Unpaid?
Paid or Unpaid?
Internships can be paid or unpaid. The view of North Seattle College is that paid internships are the best option for students. For employers, offering pay for internships will generate much more interest and enthusiasm among students than a similar unpaid position. Pay also offers a more equitable opportunity, helping students cover everyday costs such as tuition, transportation, and other expenses.
While paid positions are preferred, unpaid internships can offer excellent learning opportunities. For information on Washington State rules governing paid and unpaid internships, visit the Labor and Industries website.
North Seattle College is not a placement center - all students are expected to find their own internships. General information sessions are held quarterly; upcoming dates can be found on Handshake.
A successful search takes time, planning and flexibility. Start looking at least 3 months ahead of when you want to start your internship. We encourage all students to use a wide range of strategies when searching for internships:
- Job boards: Handshake and LinkedIn are great starting points.
- Campus Resources: Academic advisors, faculty/instructors, and classmates can all support your internship search. Advisors and faculty in particular are likely to get contacted directly by employers who are seeking applicants.
- Follow Employers: Follow recruiters and employers on job boards, bookmark their jobs/employment pages, or set up saved searches to automatically be updated when a new position is posted.
Other resources:
Indeed.com: How to find internships
Summer Internship Tips for College Students
All students should review their program pathway to determine whether they need to complete an internship in order to meet graduation requirements. At Cooperative Workplace Education (CWE), we support students in the following programs with their internship needs:
- Accounting (AAS)
- Bookkeeping Certificate
- Business (AAS)
- Cybersecurity Certificate
- Fire Science
- Project Management Certificate
Students in the following bachelor's programs should meet with their academic advisors to discuss how to meet the CWE internship requirements for their program.