Internships
We know that internships open doors and are key to career success. But many internships offer little or no compensation, forcing students to make the tough choice between earning money or pursuing an experience that will advance their professional goals.
A cornerstone of W&M’s strategic plan, Vision 2026, is a comprehensive Careers initiative designed to help students and alumni navigate rapid change and thrive from their first job to their last.
With Vision 2026 and the charge to guarantee a funded internship opportunity or other applied learning experience for every undergraduate, we need more partners to invest in the future of our students and accomplish this ambitious goal.
Invest in Tomorrow's Solution-Seekers
Here’s how you can help:
Engage
Help broaden learning experiences and career pathways for students by participating in:
- Informational Interviews — answer questions about career paths, job details and industry insights
- Industry Panels — represent your industry and organization in career discussions
- Mock Interviews — help students with preparation and feedback for upcoming interviews
- Career Topic Talks and Meet Ups — share career and industry insights in formal and informal ways
Recruit
Help mobilize W&M’s worldwide network to cultivate and retain talent through:
- Externships/Shadowing — host students for a typical day or two in your field
- Internships — hire W&M students to serve as interns
- Full-Time Employment — connect W&M with your talent acquisition team to hire students
- Networking Events and Fairs — represent your organization at on-campus and industry events
Support
Help provide applied learning opportunities for every student with a gift to the:
- Internship Fund — funds provided to students who have accepted an unpaid or underpaid experience
- Travel Funds — funds provided to students who need assistance to attend a career trip/trek
- Employer Sponsor Program — funds supporting the work of the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement while strengthening the on-campus recruiting program
Positioned for Success
W&M is a leader in experiential learning to connect classroom knowledge to the real world.
- Top 10 public university for internships by Princeton Review for four consecutive years
- 2/3 of W&M undergraduate majors have a credit-bearing internship course
- 6,600 internships posted each year across a wide range of industries
- First- and second-year students can take a credit-bearing internship course
Internship Benefits
The benefits of internships for both students and employers are undisputable. Employers indicate that internship experience is the most influential factor they consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates, and nearly 80% of interns are offered full-time positions. Through internships:
Students can:
- Apply classroom learning in a professional environment
- Gain direct work experience in their chosen field
- Establish a network of professional connections
Employers can:
- Evaluate future talent potential
- Learn from a student’s fresh perspective
- Introduce young professionals to a company without a hiring commitment
Please Give Today
With your gift today, you can help ensure that all students have access to the career development programs, services, connections and resources to transition confidently into a successful career.
A Letter from the Chief Career Officer
A cornerstone initiative in W&M’s recently released strategic plan, Vision 2026, is to equip our students to navigate rapid change and thrive from their first job to their last.
We know that internships open doors and are key to career success. In fact, a recent survey indicated that 70% of employers make full-time job offers to interns. But many internships offer little or no stipend, forcing students to make the tough choice between earning money or pursuing an experience that will advance their professional goals.
With Vision 2026 and the charge to provide a funded internship or other applied learning experience for every undergraduate, we look to you for support to accomplish this momentous task.
Please help make important career opportunities, like internships, externships, career exploration trips, the Professional Development Academy and other training, available to more students who otherwise may not have the financial resources to participate.
With your gift today, you can help ensure that all students have access to the career development programs, services, connections and resources to transition confidently into a successful career. Thank you for your investment, trust and partnership as we work together to help students achieve their dreams.
Sincerely,
Kathleen I. Powell
Chief Career Officer
To engage and recruit:
- Renard Miles, Executive Director of the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement
- 757-221-1623
- drmiles@wm.edu
To offer support:
- Suzanne M. Armstrong ’93, Assistant Vice President of Development, Campus Initiatives
- 757-221-7647
- smarmstrong@wm.edu