Internships - Southeastern Louisiana University

Internships: Your Bridge to a Successful Career

Internships help you gain real-world experience and connect your classroom learning to potential career paths.
They are short-term, supervised work opportunities(usually one or two semesters) with set learning goals.
Internships can be paid or unpaid.
They help you build skills, grow your network, and improve your chances of landing a job after graduation.

Tip: Start early—contact your department’s Internship Coordinator when you begin thinking about internships!

Even if you don’t receive course credit, the experience itself is what counts most.

Consider a Part-Time job as an opportunity to gain skills!

Not sure if a part-time job or internship is right for you?

Both offer valuable experience, but they serve slightly different purposes.

Here’s How They Compare:

Both can build important skills like communication, time management, teamwork, and customer service— skills employers value regardless of the role.
Internships are designed with learning goals in mind and often relate directly to your major or career interests.
Part-time jobs may qualify for internship credit if they align with your field of study and meet academic program requirements—check with your Internship Coordinator!
Internships are often short-term and structured, while part-time jobs can be longer-term and more flexible with scheduling.
Internships typically provide mentorship and career exposure, while part-time jobs may focus more on operational or service-based tasks.

Both can play a key role in helping you prepare for your future—what matters most is how you make the most of the opportunity!

Talk to Your Internship Coordinator: Each department has a faculty member who helps students find and navigate internship options—start here!

Use Handshake: Log in to Handshake to search for internships and apply. If you need help accessing your account, contact Career Services.