Externship Program
More student FAQs
Q: What is the externship program?
A: Go back to welcome for basic info.
Q: What are the benefits?
- The experience is intended to help you to better understand a work environment and a career field, and thus help you clarify your career goals.
- The experience gives you a professional contact: your sponsor could become a future employer — or reference — for an internship, co-op, permanent job or other type of work, although this is a possibility, not a guarantee. Professional conduct by you is essential for the experience to benefit you.
- After the 2007 externships, 92% of the students who participated said the experience was beneficial.
Q: Can I put an externship on my resume?
- Yes. Just be honest and accurate about the timeframe (e.g. don't list a full month for a two-day visit) and about the nature of the experience. It's a learning experience and it shows initiative on your part. It doesn't make you an expert in the career field, industry or profession of your externship.
Q: Can I specify the number of days I prefer my externship to last?
- Sponsors specify the number of days they offer. When you apply, you should select sponsors who offer the number of days that work for your schedule.
Q: How many days have students' externships lasted in the past?
- 55% = five days
- 8% = four days
- 9% = three days
- 12% = two days
- 15% = one day
- (2007 Externship Program data)
Q: Can students earn academic credit?
- No. Academic credit is the authority of your academic department. Be reminded that this is a one- to five-day experience.
Q: Which students are eligible?
- Undergraduate (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors) and graduate students in all majors or programs of study are eligible to apply.
- Availability of externships for students will depend on what sponsors offer; each sponsor may specify preferences for academic levels and majors.
Q: What will I do during the externship?
- An externship involves shadowing the sponsor through normal workdays. Some students may observe in one department of an organization during the externship; others may spend time in more than one department to get a broader overview.
- You might conduct informational interviews with your sponsor's colleagues, sit in on staff meetings, assist with office tasks or projects, or observe interactions with clients.
- Your sponsor will determine how your time will be spent during the externship.
- Here's what past externs said they did (2007 data):
| 98% | Tour of company/organization |
| 70% | Informational interviews with others in the office |
| 83% | Observe other general office tasks |
| 65% | Meal with your sponsor |
| 78% | Observation of meetings |
| 33% | Perform general office tasks |
| 28% | Prepare reports, spreadsheets, projects |
| 20% | Edit or proofread material |
| 20% | Work directly with clients & customers |
| 20% | Assist with research projects |
Q: Who are the sponsors?
- Sponsors may include alumni, employers, and parents of Virginia Tech students. See the list of sponsors.
Q: What if I don't find a sponsor in a career field that interests me?
- You can — and we strongly encourage you to — independently arrange an externship.
- You can look for a potential sponsor by talking to professors, family members and friends; by researching our alumni networking resource, VT CareerLink; by looking up professionals in the phone book or through professional organizations.
- If you independently arrange an externship, you do not need to apply through Career Services and you can work with your sponsor to arrange dates for your visit. However, you may want to consult a Career Services advisor or attend an Externship Program information session to learn about professional conduct expected of you in your dealings with a sponsor.
- For additional information on locating an independent externship sponsor, you may contact Julie Richardson at julie.richardson@vt.edu.
Q: What is the difference between an externship and an internship?
- Externships are short-term (generally one week or less), and offer no pay or academic credit.
- Externships are a brief learning experience and an extended site visit; the sponsor puts significant time into hosting you and giving you a learning experience.
- Internships are longer-term. Length of one summer is typical, but internships could also run from several weeks to a year. Internships may be unpaid or paid, and sometimes enable you to earn academic credit.
- With an internship, you could be employed long enough for the employer to benefit from the training you are given.
- More about internships and other ways to get experience.
Q: Will Career Services or the sponsor pay my expenses?
- No. You are responsible for all your expenses including transportation, lodging, meals, etc.
- A sponsor might treat you for lunch or otherwise assist you with an expense, but you should not expect or ask for this; it would not be courteous to do so and would put your host/sponsor in an awkward position. It would simply be a courtesy on the part of your sponsor if offered.
Q: Will Career Services or the sponsor help me with travel arrangements?
- We are not travel specialists and therefore are not in a position to help you with travel arrangements.
- Your sponsor may be able to offer advice about travel and/or recommended accommodations near the sponsor's site. You may ask your sponsor what advice and recommendations they offer.
Q: How do I apply?
- View the list of sponsors.
- Read the FAQs above and below.
- If you are interested in any of the sponsors, and if you are able to meet the terms of participation, attend an information session about the program. This does not obligate you to apply, but is required before you may participate.
- The online application will be available in early March. Students must attend an information session before access to the application will be granted.
Q: How can I improve my chances of being selected?
- Prepare your application carefully, fully explaining your career interests and reasons for wanting to participate, so we can best assign you to an appropriate externship sponsor.
- It is not necessary to have had previous career-related experience to be selected for an externship. However, do include in your resume your work and volunteer experience and student and community organization involvement so that we know as much about you as possible.
- Your resume should be well written and professional in presentation. See resume writing advice and guidelines.
Q: What can I expect after applying?
- Career Services staff will review applications and determine best matches between student applicants and sponsors and will notify you when decisions are made. The length of time for this process will depend upon several factors: the number and interests of students who apply, the number and type of sponsors who participate, and the number of students who are interested in each sponsor. Our goal is to notify students and sponsors by early April. See the dates and deadlines (right sidebar) for the complete timeline.
- ALERT: The process of assigning students to an externship in this program does NOT mirror the process by which you apply for internships, co-ops, and other types of jobs. For other types of experience, you apply directly to the employer; Career Services is not able to assign you to internships, co-ops, or other jobs, and Career Services does not make hiring decisions for employers for internships, co-ops, or any other types of jobs.
Q: If I'm accepted, how do I contact or hear from my sponsor?
- If you are assigned to a sponsor, we will provide you with the sponsor's contact information and you will initiate contact with the sponsor.
- There is an early-April deadline by which you must contact your sponsor. See the dates and deadlines (right sidebar).
Q: Can you notify me about relevant deadlines and programs pertaining to the Externship Program?
- We would be happy to send you e-mail announcements regarding information sessions, deadline dates, and other programs you might find beneficial for the Externship Program.
- Complete the Information Request Form.