Internship Program

For more information, contact the Director of the School of Communications Internship Program at socinternships@webster.edu.

It's both. The School of Communications internship program is a blend of early field experience and the academic work that supports this experience. The program is listed as MDST 4950 Internship (formerly MEDC 4950 Practicum).

Make an appointment with the Internship Director at least one semester before you plan to begin an internship. For opportunities outside of the St. Louis area, it is advised to start searching at least two semesters before your planned start date.

The School of Communications Internship Director is available to assist you in your search and placement by drawing from a large database of opportunities and years of experience. However, it is the student's responsibility to apply for internships, schedule interviews and secure placement. Additionally, students may also find an opportunity on their own. In this case, the position would need to be reviewed and approved by the director.

Students are required to meet with the Internship Director at least once. The meeting should take place in person. You determine the level of support you require, and schedule meetings accordingly.

Yes! Students may repeat MDST 4950 Internship (formerly MEDC 4950 Practicum) as long as the internship experiences are at different organization or in separate roles at the same organization. Remember, the internship must be approved by the Internship Director for a student to receive credit.

Start early. Plan to begin at least one semester prior to the time you plan to start your internship and two semesters prior if you would like experiences outside St. Louis. Make sure you read about the internship application process.

Begin networking and stay current in your field. Use the career resources page to find lists of websites related to your industry that may help you during your search process.

Become a professional online:

• Google yourself and check your social networking sites. Make sure they are set to private and/or that you don't have any photos or information posted that is not appropriate for a potential employer to view.
• Consider your email address. Make sure it is professional and easy (such as your first and last name). If you'd like to have a creative or unique email address, that is OK for some industries, but make sure it is still professional.
• Get connected. For example, create a LinkedIn page. Using online outlets such as this is a great way to network.

Brand yourself. Everything that a potential employer sees needs to be branded. This includes your resume, cover letter, business cards, reference page, online and physical portfolio, etc. You should use the same fonts, design, headers and footers and contact information (i.e., give the same email address and phone number on all pieces).

Apply to multiple positions. As you apply to positions, you get your name out there and learn more about different organizations. The more you apply the more you begin networking professionally.

Apply through email: Most organizations will ask you to send your resume and cover letter through email. When applying for an internship this way, remember to be professional and use the right tone. We tend to be much more informal on the web. Don't take this attitude too far when applying for an internship.

Applying through an online application program: When applying to a larger company you may be asked to fill out an online application and send your materials through a database. Have your application materials ready to go to make this process smooth.

No matter which way you apply (through an online program, email, mail, etc.), remember to keep your application formal. It is important to ALWAYS follow the directions stated on the position description in regard to application.

Treat the internship like you would any job. Show up on time every time you are scheduled to work, dress appropriately and professionally and behave maturely and responsibly.

Show enthusiasm, passion and stay positive. Show your supervisor and other people in the organization that you are excited to be there working with them. Smile and say thank you when given new projects and opportunities. Every task you are given is experience for you to add to a resume or portfolio to gain knowledge.

Work independently. Be ready to ask questions as opposed to completing a task incorrectly.

Be self-disciplined and meet all deadlines on or ahead of time. Sometimes you may be juggling multiple projects. Figure out which one is most important and ensure to get them all completed when needed.

Communicate! You must talk with your supervisor about projects, time management, priorities and your performance.

Be a self-starter. If you have down time, seek out projects. Ask your supervisor first, then see if it is OK to ask others in the organizations if they could use your assistance. While you wait for projects to come in, explore the organization's website, marketing materials, etc., in depth.

Network. Now is your chance to network with not only your supervisor, but every other employee with a related field in the organization. Talking to people and letting them know your interests and goals will allow them to get to know you better and may lead to a new opportunity. Set up networking opportunities with people in the organization and be social, in general.