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Career Services > Students > Internships

Internships at Lake Forest College can be done with or without academic credit. The role of Career Services is to support all students who are preparing for the internship search by assisting with resume writing, interviewing skills, and internship search strategies. Credited internships are then supervised by faculty members, while not-for-credit internships are supervised by Career Services.

The Career Services Internship Coordinator is available to help with all steps of the internship process, from clarifying interests to crafting a resume and interviewing for positions. See our Internship Resource Handout for a guide to the internship process.

To make an appointment with the Internship Coordinator, Christie Andersen, call 847.735.5237 or email andersen@lakeforest.edu.

Why Should I Do an Internship?

Internships are a great way to gain professional experience, “test” a career path, and make beneficial professional connections. In many competitive fields employers will expect that applicants complete an internship before being considered for entry level positions. They are a great way to get a foot in the door and apply your liberal arts education to a real world setting.

Internships for Credit

Internships taken for credit at Lake Forest College are off-campus learning experiences integrated into the academic program of students enrolled in a liberal arts curriculum. Although the specific nature of internship experiences will vary, the faculty intends that internships should clarify the relationship between traditional liberal arts study and work in non-academic settings. Lake Forest College intends to foster the application of theoretical training to the wider environment of the workplace.

Internships for credit are administered through individual departments. The Career Services Internship Coordinator can help all students prepare for and apply to internships but Internship Supervisors make decisions about credit. Internships for credit are typically completed in the Chicago area for ease of administration and require 150 hours of work over the semester per credit. Students will also have a requirement from the department, such as seminar participation, projects, and journals. For important forms required to receive credit, please log in to MyForester, click on "Academics", and "Internships for Credit. "

Internship Supervisors for the 2007/2008 school year are:

Communication
Helene DeGross 847.735.6023
degross@lakeforest.edu

Economics/Business
George Seyk 847.735.6091
seyk@lakeforest.edu

Education
Shelley Sherman 847.735.5172
sherman@lakeforest.edu

Humanities
(Art, Foreign Languages, English, History, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Theater)
Ann Roberts 847.735.5188
roberts@lakeforest.edu

Natural Sciences
(Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Studies, Mathematics and Computer Science)
Lynn Westley 847.735.6048
westley@lakeforest.edu

Psychology
Kathy Dohrmann 847.735.5245
dohrmann@lakeforest.edu

Social Sciences
(Politics, Sociology & Anthropology)
Julia Fiske
fiske@lakeforest.edu

Internships for Experience

Some students choose to complete internships without receiving credit. Internships not done for credit can be valuable experiences and can allow students to make decisions about opportunities based on their own professional goals. The Career Services Internship Coordinator can help students explore possible internship opportunities and prepare for the application process. Please fill out this form to alert the Internship Coordinator to your internship. This will allow you to stay connected to the college during your internship for support and feedback, if needed.

How do I search for internships?

· Search the Online Career Center (OCC) on the Career Services webpage www.lakeforest.edu/careers.  Internship and job postings are added weekly. 

· Browse the Career Services' internship books.  These books include The Insider Guide to Getting Your Ideal Internship and The Internship Bible. 

· Target companies in your fields of interest.

   1. Use Vault, our company research database, accessible through our OCC. Search the top companies in a particular field through their “Top 50” series.

   2. Utilize local Chambers of Commerce. Chamber websites typically list a directory of members, and this resource is usually a comprehensive list of companies in a given area.

   3. Do a Google search. For example: “non-profit internships in Chicago” or “communications internships in Chicago”. You’d be surprised how much you find- the internet can be a very rich source of identifying internships.

   4. Start by searching company HR websites in case they list internships. If internships are not listed, search for any contact information you can find- email, phone numbers, etc. Get in touch to politely ask if they have opportunities available.

· Activate your network.  Establishing and maintaining a network of contacts can be one of the best ways to learn about and secure potential jobs.  Starting with faculty, staff, and friends, let everyone know that you are looking for an internship.  Also tell your family, relatives, past employers, family friends, etc. about the types of employment that you are seeking.  Or, ask your contacts directly but politely if they know of any potential internship opportunities.

· Review local business publications or professional journals for announcements of new businesses.  New businesses, or newly expanded businesses, often find themselves in a “personnel crisis” and may be willing to create an internship position for you.

In the past, students have interned with:

A Safe Place Crisis Center
Altair Advisers
Axiom Consulting
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
Chicago Historical Society
Christie's
Clear Channel Communications
Creticos Cancer Center
East on Central Literary Magazine
Field Museum
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
GCG Financial
Haywire Booking
Highland Park Chamber of Commerce
Jerry Springer Show
La Salle Bank
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley
National Speaker's Bureau
Pro Sports Experience
Rolling Stone
Senator Richard Durbin
Scott Balice Strategies
Svigos Asset Management