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Looking to add value to your educational experience? An internship can give you the practical experience employers are looking for, and lets you put what you've learned in the classroom to work for you.

Businesses in the Western New York region are looking for enthusiastic talent to help them during peak workload periods or to complete an important project that the company may not otherwise have the resources to address.

Interested?

Search here   to view the internships available in our region.

Internship experiences come in many forms, with various labels that are used interchangeably.

• Apprenticeship
• Internships
• Cooperative Education
• Service Learning
• Practicum
• Student Teaching
• Volunteer Experiences
• Project Work

Apprenticeship
Usually associated with the skilled trades, an apprenticeship is a form of on the job training. The apprentice works with a skilled veteran craftsman for a period of time, to become a fully functional tradesman.

Internships
An internship is usually a one-time work experience done by a student who is at least at the high school level. Many interns are in college and have taken some course work that is related to their major. You'll work in a professional setting under the supervision of at least one practicing professional usually for a semester. This can be a credit bearing experience for your academic program. Some internship can be paid.

Cooperative Education (Co-Op)
A cooperative education is usually a one time work experience done by a college student over more than one semester. You must have accumulated a significant number of credit hours in your major academic study area, and the co-op involves work assignments that are related to your academic and career interests. Co-op students are sometime paid and earn academic credit. The typical program is one where you are involved in the work setting at the same time you are taking classes that are related to your work experience, thereby maximizing both experiences.

Service Learning
This is a term used to describe what is a component of an individual academic course to augment the course content with practical experience. This is usually arranged through a not-for-profit organization. You are not paid, or supervise by the employer or your college.

Practicum
A practicum is similar to service learning in that you are not paid, but you are required to complete this experience as a course requirement.

Student Teaching
To complete a degree in education, students must first demonstrate competency in the area of teaching. You are placed in a classroom setting and are supervised by an experienced teacher in the preparation and delivery of classroom presentations and lesson plans. Student teachers receive academic credit for this experience.

Volunteer Experiences
Many students arrange practical work experiences on their own. The volunteer experience can be flexible depending on the employer's needs and the volunteer's availability.

Project Work
Employers can request that a team of students be assigned to a particular project like designing a software application, implementing a direct mail or advertising program, or revising a company's accounting procedures.

Interested?
Click here to view the internships available in the Western New York region.