STUDENTS

$3,000 Awards for Unpaid 2008 Internships

We know that although many students would like to do an internship, they can’t afford to work for free. We are pleased to announce the 2008 Unpaid Internship Awards! Eligible students who apply for and receive an offer to work in an approved unpaid internship for 3 studio elective credits to be completed during the Spring or Summer of 2008 are welcome to apply for one of the $3,000 awards for financial help. There will be two awards for the Spring semester and two for the Summer.

DEADLINES: For $3,000 awards for Unpaid Internship:

Spring Internship Deadline: Thursday, January 31st 2008 by 4:30

ABOUT INTERNSHIPS

What qualifies as an internship?

In general, internships must be 10-20 hours per week for a duration of 8-14 weeks. An intern must work under the supervision of a professional in the field at the location of the business (no remote or “from home” work). Internship responsibilities must be pre-professional in nature. You must register your internship for 3 studio elective credits. Students may pursue approved listings using Career Service’s on-line listings.

Students may also use other resources to find an internship on their own. The selected opportunity ultimately must be registered and approved by Career Services and the Faculty Internship Advisor based on the guidelines for qualification stated above.

Once I have been selected for an unpaid internship, how do I register for the 3 studio elective credits?

Go to: Students: Register for 3 Studio Elective Credits

You will see a link to an on-line application to request approval (and electronic signatures) from your chosen Internship Faculty Advisor, Academic Advising, your internship supervisor and the Registrar’s Office. This starts your internship file.

Diana Glennon in the Registrar’s Office T-8 is the contact at MassArt who will handle your active internship file. Watch for mid-term and final evaluations for you and your supervisor to complete during your internship. The evaluations will be sent to you via email. Make sure to respond to all emails sent by Diana or Career Services relative to your internship.

Summer internship credit will appear on your Fall 2009 semester transcript. This arrangement is designed to help you financially, by avoiding the separate tuition and fees associated with summer course registration through Continuing Education.

What is the Written Agreement that I need to sign? Does my internship supervisor need to sign it too?

The Written Agreement, available at www.massart.edu/internships, details for you and your internship employer, the relationship and understanding you must adhere to during your internship. You should print out the Written Agreement that you and your internship supervisor should read and sign in ink.

After agreeing and signing the Written Agreement, make two copies, one for you and one to be sent to:
Diana Glennon
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Floor 8: Registrar’s Office
621 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

Can I apply for internships that are not connected to my major?

Yes! However, make sure to discuss in your essay why the internship is helpful for achieving your goals, related to your major or career. Also, internships that are outside of your major may require that you work with a faculty member that is not your advisor who will be best suited to supervise your internship experience.

What if the employer I am interested in doesn’t offer internships? Should I bother applying?

Absolutely, please submit an application. Perhaps the company, organization or artist has never had the opportunity to work with an intern. Create your own opportunity! You can still submit your resume, cover letter and, if needed, images of your work for their consideration.

ELIGIBILITY:

Which internships qualify for these awards?

Unpaid internships must be completed during the Spring or Summer 2008 semesters. Internships eligible for these awards must meet an additional time requirement of a minimum of 21 hours per week for an 8 week internship and a minimum of 12 hours per week for a 14 week internship. You may choose to do an internship of more then 8 weeks but less than 14. Internships must be registered and approved by both Career Services and the Registrar’s Office. We cannot accept applications for volunteering your time to an employer. To apply for these awards the student must be eligible and successfully complete an internship for 3 studio elective credits during the awarded semester. Remember there is no deferment of funding. You cannot apply for a Spring Internship and use the money for a Summer Internship instead. If you apply for a Spring award you must complete your internship during the Spring Semester.

You can apply for these awards after you and an internship employer have agreed to work together.

Who Can Apply?

Students who are eligible to participate in MassArt’s internship program and have registered their unpaid 2008 internship for credit with Dianna Glennon by the application deadline.

Students are eligible to have an internship starting second semester freshman year. Transfer students should check with the Registrar’s office to see when they will be eligible.

Eligible students in all BFA majors may apply.

International Students should check with Natalie Vinski for internship eligibility and additional information.  If you are eligible to complete an internship, you may apply for the awards.

What is needed to apply and how are materials weighted?

• 30% Resume and cover letter. Include employer’s application if applicable.

• 30% Samples of your work: 5-10 images of your work, demo reel (under 3 minutes and cued). Slides or print materials are acceptable. Please note: it is important to offer images of your work for the committee’s consideration. The images you submit may be the ones you used to apply for the internship or those you consider the best examples of your work. 

• 30% Essay no longer than 1 page on how this particular internship will help your career

• Presentation Materials 10%

• Scholarship cover sheet (required) www.massart.edu/internshipawards

I still have questions; Where can I go for help?

Please either stop by Career Services, Kennedy 2nd floor or email Maryellen.Schroeder@massart.edu.

Anything else I should know about accepting the awards if I win?

If you drop out or fail the internship, you forfeit the awards.

You cannot save the money and do an internship at another time. Your internship must be completed during the semester it is awarded.

The average turn-around time for a check from the Business Office is approximately 3 weeks from submission of completed forms. If selected for the awards, you will be filling in a W-9.

The awards are taxable income.

When will the winners be notified? Will you make an announcement?

Winners will be notified by Friday Feb. 8, 2008 for Spring and Friday May 9, 2008 for Summer by 5pm. Career Services will announce the winners names in the following Thursday’s job update email Feb. 14 & May 15, 2008 respectively. If you are not currently receiving the job update email, please stop by Career Services, Kennedy 2nd floor.

OTHER:

Should I pursue paid internships too? Can I get credit and get paid by an internship employer?

Yes, pursue both paid and unpaid internships that interest you. You can receive 3 studio elective credits for a MassArt approved internship, even if it is paid.

What if the internship doesn’t work out and I need to leave before it ends?

If you don’t work, you don’t get the awards. If you have concerns about working in any internship, please be sure to talk to your Internship Faculty Advisor and Maryellen Schroeder, Director of Career Services for advice.

Is there anything else I should know about the awards?

You cannot supplement a paid internship with these awards.

You cannot submit an application for awards if you are working as an intern for a MassArt faculty member.

Seniors who will graduate in 2008 will be eligible to apply for the Spring 2008 awards, but NOT the Summer awards.

Only matriculated MassArt BFA students are eligible. MFA, COF, Pro-Arts, Continuing Education and Visiting students are not eligible to apply. MassArt alumni are not eligible.

Students on academic probation are not eligible to apply for these awards

First semester freshman are not eligible.

All applicants must be registered with an Id and Password for job listing access through the Career Services Office.

Can I apply for internships after I apply for the awards?

No, the application process for these awards requires confirmation from an internship supervisor that you have been offered a MassArt approved unpaid internship. We will verify employer information for award recipients.

Does the internship award only apply to unpaid internships at non-profits?

For - profit organizations can offer wonderful unpaid internships for credit. Please apply for the awards if you are selected for one.   

What if the internship is “technically” unpaid, but the employer can offer me travel expenses or some other assistance, can I still apply for the award?

Sorry, to be fair to all students who are applying, the internship must be completely unpaid. If the internship is supported in any way, for example by a grant, stipend, scholarship, travel expenses etc. it is not considered unpaid.   

APPLICATION:

What do I tell the employer if my working for their organization is contingent upon winning the awards?

Exactly that, “I am very interested in this opportunity but I do have financial responsibilities. I will be submitting an application for a $3,000 award from MassArt and if I win, I can start on (give a date).”

What if the employer doesn’t ask to see samples of my work, what images do I offer to the committee if I apply for these awards?

Show images of the best examples of your work regardless of whether you used that material to apply for your internship. For some students they will be the same images, both for an internship application and as their best work to date.

Be sure to link your work to your essay about your career goals and why you are applying for these awards.

When do I apply?

You can submit an application anytime after you have been offered an unpaid credit worthy internship. The deadline is Thursday Jan. 31, 2008 for Spring and Thursday May 1, 2008 for Summer by 4:30 pm in Career Services Kennedy 2nd floor. If you do not win the Spring award and want to try for the Summer awards, you must reapply.

DECISION:

Are these merit awards or based on financial need?

These merit awards have been created to encourage gaining practical applied experience through an internship.  Selection is based on the resume and cover letter you submitted to get your chosen internship, samples of your work and an essay about how the internship will help you realize your artistic career goals.

What will the committee want to see in my essay?

Effective essays have a framework. Write clearly about your artistic career goal(s) and how your chosen internship will help you facilitate those goals.

Who picks the winners?

Winners will be determined by a committee.

LUCKY WINNERS:

What are the minimum number of hours and weeks required to get the full $3,000 award?

An internship is about gaining practical professional experience. A productive internship puts you in a great position to network with people who can help you after graduation and use your art skills. Give yourself enough time to finish important projects and gain every advantage from your internship. It is the experience that will pay off for you in the long run. Internships eligible for these awards must meet an additional time requirement of a minimum of 21 hours per week for an 8 week internship and a minimum of 12 hours per week for a 14 week internship. Internships between 8-14 weeks require that 168 hours be completed.

All winners also agree to talk at the next year’s info session. All winners will be asked to take photographs of their internship experience, especially a shot of them “in action” at their internship. These images may be used for publicity purposes.

Will winning the awards affect my Financial Aid?

Check with the Financial Aid Office, 8th floor Tower.

What if I donít win the awards?

Please remember that you:
(1) Identified an internship that is of value to you and your professional development 
(2) registered to complete the internship for 3 studio elective credits
(3) met an employer who can help you gain experience to further your career goals.

You can either choose to do the internship as professional experience for the minimum amount of time (108 hrs) to gain invaluable experience or withdraw from taking this internship as a studio elective.

When will the awards be distributed?

Payment is half ($1,500) upon completion of a successful mid-term evaluation by both you and your internship supervisor. The additional $1,400 will be given after:

(1) All required internship paperwork has been completed by both the intern, their internship supervisor and the internship faculty advisor at the end of the internship.

(2) You have submitted photographs of you working in your internship.

(3) All required paperwork must be received by Diana Glennon in the Registrar’s Office.  Complete and detailed answers are expected on all forms. The final $100 of your award will be given after you participate in the info session. Graduating seniors who win the Spring Awards are not required to take part in the info session.

Finding an Internship: Applying not Placed

Looking for an Internship is like looking for a job. You are not “placed” in an internship. You will need to seek internships you are interested in and apply for them. We offer resume and interview prep sessions for you to pursue Fall, Spring, and Summer internships.

Applying for an internship usually means submitting your resume and cover letter. Sometimes some employers may request that you submit samples of your work and even fill in an application form if the company/organization uses one for their internship program. Career Services can help you get started with creating your resume and cover letter. Watch for workshops and handouts to show you how to write your first resume or update an old one. We can also point you in the right direction with any questions you may have about applying for internships.

We are not your only source for internship leads. Many students find their own internships.  If you accept an internship with an employer you have found on your own, they will need to register with our office. Ask about the paperwork.

We ask that Internship supervisors at a company/organization/studio site be a working professional in the field. This person should be able to answer your career questions and guide you with developing your own portfolio and to pursue your career goals.  For example, we would ask that a Graphic Designer be the supervisor for a Graphic Design intern. Of course, any internship you may find on your own will need to fit the framework for MassArt credit bearing internships and be approved by your Internship Faculty Member.

Are you an International student?

If you are attending MassArt on an F-1 visa, ask Natalie Vinski, MassArt’s International Education Coordinator, to sign the On Campus Employment Eligibility form for you to access Career Services. Natalie can tell us if you are eligible to do an internship. Most international students can participate in the internship program.

Intern Housing in Other Cities

Please see “Intern Housing Resources” handout available in Career Services, Kennedy 2nd Floor.

Before You Start Your Internship go to www.massart.edu/internships for the registration forms and other information.

• Once you have found and accept an internship, there are three important people who will be connected to your experience: (1) Your Internship Supervisor at the company, s/he will be filling in evaluations about your work performance during your placement.  You will also be completing the same or similar evaluations during your internship. (2) Your Internship Faculty Member who will receive the completed evaluations and assign the final grade. (3) Diana Glennon maintains your active internship file while you are on your placement. Diana works in the Registrar’s Office in the Tower Building, 8th floor.

• You choose your Internship Faculty Member. You can choose a faculty member in your major/concentration who is familiar with your work. This person could be the department chair or another professor. Your Internship Faculty Member reads the evaluations sent in from your Internship Supervisor and you and assigns a final grade.

• During your credit-bearing internship, mid-term and final evaluations are sent to both you and your employer. These are valuable to you since they record your employer’s comments and evaluation of your talent and skills. This information can help you when you apply for jobs after graduation.

• Internships must be done in “real time”. The college cannot offer retroactive credit for an internship you have already completed.

Internship Strategies for Paid and Unpaid Internships

• Open up your options. If you need to earn money to eat, pay the bills etc, and then accept an internship for the minimum number of hours and weeks required to earn credit. Many unpaid internships offer excellent experience that is worth it. The specific hours and duration will be agreed upon between you and your internship employer.

• If an internship looks even remotely interesting to you, apply for it. You will learn more about the internship as you go through the application and interview process.

• Apply for more than one internship. It will increase your chances of getting one. Competition is strong even for unpaid internships with organizations you may have never heard of before.

• Think of your first internship as a stepping stone to the second one. Internship experience builds on itself. For example, you may want to do an unpaid internship in the Fall semester to hone your skills so you can compete for a paid internship with another employer the following summer.

• If you find an internship listed with Career Services apply as soon as possible. Employers expect to receive applications within 3-5 days of posting their opportunities.  Although internships usually have a longer deadline date, an employer may move ahead with reviewing applications and contacting students once they start accumulating enough applications.

• If you see the expiration date is coming up soon (look towards the bottom of each job description on our system), ask Maryellen to call the employer to see if they are still accepting applications.

• If your application is received early you have a better chance of being at the top of the pile. Many employers review applications in the order they were received or postmarked. Some employers may sort all applications alphabetically. So, if your last name is in the middle or end of the alphabet, be sure your resume is clear, concise and can be skimmed for important information within 30-45 seconds. 

• As a general rule of thumb, plan to start your internship in September for the Fall semester, late January for the Spring semester or June for a summer internship. However, there is some flexibility with timeframes. Check with your internship employer and Dianna Glennon in the Registrar’s Office on the 8th Floor of the Tower Building.

• Half and full days that you can potentially offer to an employer are more desirable than 1-2 hours scattered over the week. Employers benefit most from students who can offer chunks of time to work on-site.

• Factor in travel time getting to an internship. You are only of value to your internship employer once you arrive on-site to work.

• Make yourself more marketable.  Employers choose interns who can offer them skills and abilities to do the job. These skills and abilities are usually learned and practiced in your classes and studios, especially those related to your major. Using them in an internship setting makes those skills doubly valuable because there is evidence that you have applied them in a current employment setting.

• Feel your skills are weak? Not a problem. As a student, this is perhaps the only time in your life that you can use your inexperience to your advantage.   If your potential internship employer asks: “Why are you interested in this internship?” you can reply “I have taken classes in (Photoshop, video editing, wheel throwing…whatever skill you feel you want more practice with) and I would like to hone my skills” or “I want to consider a career as a studio artist and I want to see the realities of how it works for you as a business”.  After graduation, employers will not want to pay for a candidate’s inexperience.

• To prepare, have Maryellen review your resume and cover letter(s) before you start applying. Call 617-879-7779 to make an appointment. Bring in a rough copy of your resume and letter (s) on paper to your appointment. Also, have a copy of your resume in your email and corrections can be made during your meeting with Maryellen.

• Fall is the least competitive time to secure an internship, but you have to act fast. You must apply, interview and be accepted by the employer before MassArt’s Fall add/drop date which is usually in mid-late September. Start looking and applying in late July/early August.

• Spring is also a good time to look at internships. Summer is the most competitive. 

• You don’t need a perfect resume to pursue internships, but you do need one.  Pick up a Job Resume workbook in Career Services. Attend the Resume workshop when it is offered during the academic year.

• You don’t need a perfect portfolio, but you should be prepared to show appropriate samples of your work. Usually these samples are connected to classes/studios in your major.

Next Steps: What to do now

• Go to Career Services (Kennedy, 2nd Floor) to sign up for a personal account to access our on-line job/internship listings and to receive the weekly emails from the office.

• Pick up a Job Resume Workbook in Career Services.

• Once you have a rough copy of your resume, make an appointment to meet with Maryellen (617-879-7779) for editing help. Bring a paper copy. You can also email your resume to yourself and open it during your appointment to make changes on the spot. Some students bring their laptops to make changes during their appointment.

• Attend Resume and Interview Workshops offered by Career Services.

• Check Internship listings via Career Services and other websites for opportunities. Career Services can offer you suggestions of other websites to check.

Help is Here!

Career Services is offering resume and interviewing preparation workshops to help you prepare to apply for internships.

You are welcome to contact Career Services for personal help with your resume, cover letters, online access to our internship listings and essay assistance.

Please call 617-879-7779 to make an appointment. Career Services workshops are listed on http://collegecentral.com/massart. Scroll to the bottom of the second page and look under Upcoming Events and Programs. To attend a workshop please be sure to RSVP your full name, workshop title and date to rsvpcareers@massart.edu.