academia_thorne.jpg (32174 bytes)

home.gif (303 bytes)
CDC Homepage
Directories







Search

 Career Development
Center
  Occidental College
 1600 Campus Road,
Coons 109
 Los Angeles, CA
 90041-3314

 Email: careers@oxy.edu
 Phone: 323.259.2623
 Fax: 323.341.4900

Career Development Center
 
Internship Program

The Career Development Center coordinates an internship program to support students seeking internships nationwide.  Occidental College offers both a two unit and a zero unit option for students in their sophomore, junior and senior years.  Following is critical information you need to know in order to find, apply for and make the most of your internship.

Internship Resources

Why Do an Internship?

Internships provide Occidental students an opportunity to gain practical work experience in a variety of fields.  Due to the proximity of the college to the greater Los Angeles area, the reputation of the college, and the caliber of the students, many employers contact the Center with internship positions.

Here are just some of the obvious advantages an internship offers:

  • Learn more about a chosen field.

  • Apply classroom theory to real work situations.  

  • Become more knowledgeable about general work functions in particular fields.  

  • Identify and/or test interests and talents.

  • Investigate organizational cultures.  

  • Learn career-related skills.  

  • Identify transferable skills.  

  • Strengthen written and oral skills.

  • See if a selected career path is one you truly wish to travel.

  • Find out what it’s like to work in a business environment.

In addition, here are some benefits:

  • Internships enhance and strengthen your resume.

  • Internships allow you to make contacts to gain future employment.

  • Internships serve as a bridge between college and work.

"I am beginning my third week at Endeavor Talent Agency, one of the top two talent agencies in the world, and the most aggressively growing agency. I got this job because I landed an internship through a family friend. My supervisor was impressed with my work ethic, so when I was ready to find a full-time job, I asked him to call agencies on my behalf. He helped me land this job after a few initial interviews. And now, here I am! Working towards my dream!" 
From a Double Major in Politics and Visual Arts

Occidental College has very large national internship program due to our membership in the National Internship Consortium, which we refer to as NIC.  In the past few years, students completed internships at a variety of organizations including: 

City of Hope
DreamWorks
Economics Analysis Group of the U.S. Department of Justice
Fox Sports News
The Getty Art Institute
Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Huntington Medical Research Institutes 
Inline Translations, Inc.
Institute for Human Studies
LA Ronald McDonald House
Lamont-Doherty Summer Intern Program at Columbia University
Lehman Brothers
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago
Live, Learn and Intern on Capitol Hill
The Maria Mitchell Observatory
The Mark Taper Forum
Merrill Lynch
Minority Training Institute (MAT)
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute 
Morgan Stanley
Paramount Pictures
Redefining Progress
Roche Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto 
The Northeast Los Angeles Community Outreach Partnership Center
UCLA Medical Center

The Career Development Center encourages students in every academic major to complement their studies with experiential learning in a professional setting.  Internships are also a great opportunity for current students to network with potential employers.

This internship is so great. Over the past few weeks my supervisor and I have been working very closely: I have taken on several projects with solid results. He even asked me to stay on for another term. If I ever wanted a job in an LGBT NGO, I am just about guaranteed a spot with the networking I have been doing.
From a French Major

  • According to a recent Job Report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 80.9% of new college hires had either an co-op or internship experience.

  • Out of 136 responses to the 2005 Senior Survey (445 graduates), the total students who participated in one internship equals 38, two internships - 22, three internships - 14, and four internships - 4.

"Internships enable students to apply their academic talents to the real world. The connections and experiences I gained through Occidental College ’s internship opportunities were invaluable. In fact, my film production internship segued directly into my first job."
From an Art History Visual Arts Major

 
Last updated:03/20/08