The Clay Center encourages students to utilize all of the resources available to them when searching for an internship, including those provided on campus and through other avenues. Sources of potential internship leads include:

The Clay Center at VSB

The Clay Center houses internship listings, by academic disciplines, which include current descriptions of internship experiences that have been approved for academic credit. Students may review these listings at their convenience and pursue the application instructions listed on the descriptions.

Career Services Office

• GoNOVA (formerly eRecruiting/Experience) - CSO posts all incoming internship and full-time job opportunities to the GoNOVA website. Every undergraduate student has an GoNOVA account; to activate their account and utilize this system, students must complete an online student profile and upload a resume.
  • Internship Postings - Once a student’s profile is completed, he/she may utilize the “Jobs” function to search for, view, and apply for available positions online.
  • Employer Search - Students are encouraged to utilize the “Employers” search function for specific companies in which they may have an interest. CSO has relationships with hundreds of organizations and may be able to provide students with recruiter contact information. Even though a particular company may not have a current internship posting in the system that is appropriate for you, you can utilize the contact information to directly communicate with the recruiter in regard to your interests.
  • Resume Books – Students have the opportunity to publish resumes to a variety of Resume Books. The Clay Center and Career Services may refer employers to these books as a source of internship candidates. Students are encouraged to post their resume to the “Business Internship” Resume Book and others, as appropriate.
• Internship/Job Search Web sites - CSO has identified a variety of job search engines that may be useful to students when searching for internships and jobs.

Networking

Students are encouraged to network with friends, relatives, family contacts, neighbors, previous employers, and others to explore internship leads. While the development of leads via this route requires more time and effort, these connections often lead to the most valuable opportunities. Make an appointment with a CSO Career Counselor (610.519.4060; Corr 106) if you need assistance with identifying or building your network.

VU Alumni–Fellow Villanovans are important members of a current Villanova student’s network. Because alumni have once been in your shoes and often have a desire to give back to the university, they can be a valuable source of information if approached in the appropriate manner. Students can connect with Villanova graduates via Alumni Chapters that are formed throughout the U.S. and several international locations. The Chapter Listing will provide names and contact information for the presidents of each group.

Students should NOT ask alumni to get them an internship, but are encouraged to ask for input and insights on particular professions, industries, companies, and/or geographic locations (e.g. “…I’m a junior marketing major particularly interested in a career in fashion merchandising. Could you suggest a few members of your chapter with whom it may be helpful for me to speak? It would be valuable for me to hear from a Villanova graduate who has been successful in this field as to how they got started, suggestions for internship experiences, etc…”).

Company Websites

Students should visit the websites of companies that are of specific interest to them. It is a common practice for organizations to post information regarding career opportunities and internship programs, as well as details on the appropriate application procedure.