Jobs & Internships

Finding the right internship for you requires research. Internships are posted on sites including Handshake. If you have a specific organization in mind, go directly to their company website to look for potential internship offerings. Some employers may formally offer and publicize internships directly through your academic department. The Career Center also hosts career fairs each semester, bringing many employers who are ready to talk with prospective interns.

Not all internships are publicized. Some students will find it necessary to create their own internship by directly contacting employers of interest. Internships may also be found by using your network: LinkedIn, personal contacts, faculty, advisors and Career Center staff. Contact the Career Center if you need assistance in preparing a resume and approaching potential internship sites.

When applying for an internship, be sure to start early! UNCP's Career Center staff recommend beginning your search approximately six months before you hope to begin work. Summer internships are often posted throughout the year and have deadlines ranging from as early as October to March.  

Keeping a detailed record of application deadlines, requirements, and other details throughout the application process will help ensure you meet deadlines. Use position details to create customized resumes and cover letters for each internship.  As you review your application documents and prepare for interviews, be sure to utilize the Career Center's resources and how-to guides. 

Remember that internships are learning experiences.  Get the most out of your work by:

• Setting clear goals and asking for desired experiences;
• Asking questions;
• Building relationships; and,
• Being open to and seeking out feedback. 

Internship Dos and Don'ts

Students MUST meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Be an undergraduate student, enrolled full-time student and returning to campus the next semester. 
• Be a North Carolina resident.
• Have not previously participated in UNCP's SECU Public Fellows Internship Program.
• Must not be a director, employee or family member of a director or employee of SECU or SECU Foundation.
• Agency must be located in North Carolina and serve North Carolina communities.

Please note that priority will be given to students from rural counties or pursuing opportunities in rural counties. This program is open to students from all majors.

Students must agree to the following requirements: 

• Attend the orientation session.
• Complete a post-internship survey. 
• Write a reflection paper at the end of the internship experience.
• Engage in a professional development workshops with the Career Center.
• Sign an internship participation agreement.

Organizations that agree to host a student for the summer must agree to the following criteria:

• Sign an employer agreement form committing your participation in the SECU Public Fellows Program for the duration of the internship.
• Be available via email or phone call with the Employer Relations Coordinator throughout the summer to check-in and provide updates.
• Promote the mission of this program by providing a nurturing and supportive environment for the student participant to grow professionally.
• Fill out a feedback form at the end of the summer for the Career Center’s records and improvement purposes.

• Career Readiness

• Tutor.com: gain access via Canvas with your UNCP email.

• LinkedIn:  Join the more than 13,000 UNC Pembroke alumni on LinkedIn at UNC Pembroke and find out where your alumni are working now, after all, 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. Let us show you how to create a professionally engaging profile and harness the power of LinkedIn to find jobs and internships and connect with 467 million members worldwide.

• Glassdoor: Holds a growing database of 6 million company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, office photos and more. Unlike other job sites, all of this information is entirely shares by those who know the company best – the employees!

It is very important for you to educate yourself about potential scams. These are some common signs that a job is most likely fraudulent:

• The promise of a large salary for very little work — especially those that state thousands of dollars of income per month with little or no experience required.
• Positions that ask you to give credit card or bank account numbers, or copies of personal documents 
• Jobs that ask you to send payment by wire service or courier 
• Positions in which you are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account — often for depositing checks or transferring money .
• While there are legitimate opportunities for individuals to work from home, be sure to research the position in advance of applying.

If you suspect a position is fraudulent, please contact the Career Center. If you believe you are the victim of fraud resulting from a job listing, please contact the local police as well.

Read more about scams:

• FTC's website
• Tips on how to spot fraudulent employers