1. How should I begin my search for internship sites?
The sky is the limit! You have the opportunity to explore existing internship opportunities or develop a new internship opportunity anywhere! The internet will be your best option for exploration. You need to answer a few questions including, but not limited to; what type of work do I want to pursue? (clinical, strength & conditioning, corporate, etc.), what type of population do I want to work with, and am I willing to move? Once you have answers to those questions, begin exploring the internet in that field and in that region of the world. Here are some helpful sites to get you started;
Premier Health & Fitness Resources
http://www.phfr.com
National Internship Directory
http://www.internsearch.com/
Midwest ACSM Chapter
http://www.mwacsm.org/job%20opportnities.htm
Navy
http://mwr.navy.mil/mwrprgms/intern.html
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2. When should I begin my search for internship sites?
You can begin exploring internship opportunities ASAP. You can gather as much information about internship site opportunities and make any general contact with the sites to get answers to general questions anytime. Common general questions might include, but are not limited to;
1) Have you had interns in the past? If not, would you consider forming an internship position?
2) Do you accept interns every semester?
3) What are some typical responsibilities of the intern?
4) When do you accept applications for the Fall, Spring, Summer, etc. semester?
5) What do you require along with the applications (i.e. letters of recommendation (how many?), resume, first aid certification, any other certification, etc.)
The semester prior to your internship start is the time that you want to get serious about contacting sites, applying, and interviewing. Please remember to be professional when addressing the internship sites regardless if it is through e-mail and/or by phone.
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3. How many places should I apply to?
You really want to be careful not to put all your eggs in one basket, even if one site is where you really want to be. Many sites do not make a final decision until the last minute and if you wait, you may be left behind. You want to apply to as many sites as possible that fit your criteria and future goals. This should be in the ballpark of 5-10 sites.
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4. What should I do if the site supervisor does not respond to my initial contact?
If you have made initial contact and have not heard back, wait three or four days and call/e-mail back. This can be and must be done in a positive and professional way. Remember that these supervisors are full-time employees with a busy and hectic schedule. Therefore, they would probably appreciate a helpful reminder that you are inquiring about a position as long as it is done in a professional non-nagging or complaining way!
Also, some people respond better to e-mail and some better to phone calls. Exhaust all your means of communication before giving up on that site.
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5. What if the internship site has not given me an answer after my interview and the deadline is approaching?
As long as you have been in consistant communication with me during your internship search, you can still be registered for the class after you hear a response and after the deadline date. This poses a problem for those students that are not in good communication. If I do not know you are an intern prospect or that you are waiting for a site to contact you past the deadline, you will not be admitted to the class. You will have to re-apply the following semester.
As mentioned above, during your internship site hunt, please do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Make sure that you are not waiting to hear from only one place past the deadline. If you do not have other opportunities lined up, you may be disappointed and behind if you are not selected and have nothing to fall back on.
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