Internships

The UTRGV Career Center provides students with a variety of diverse opportunities to build career-related skills and connect with employers through events and experiential learning activities. An internship or other form experiential learning can be a great way for students to develop professional skills while simultaneously contributing value to an organization.

UTRGV defines an internship as a field-based experience related to your career interests, academic major or graduate school discipline. An internship may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, for academic credit or non-credit. Internships allow you to:

  • Explore or refine career interests
  • Enhance your professional and personal skills
  • Gain a competitive edge on the job market
  • Develop a network of professionals
  • Build up your resume

An internship is an investment in your future and makes you a more appealing candidate for jobs after you graduate.

If you would like to explore internships further, you may login Handshake and schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor. Need guidance? Check out this video.

Below are some areas to consider before you begin your internship search:

Career Interests: Determine an industry or area you would like to explore and gain skills in. Choose two or three of your top career interests before beginning your search. This will allow you to be more targeted with your search efforts.

Motivation and Goals: Why are you interested in an internship? What are your goals for participating in a career development experience? Asking yourself these questions can help you determine an experience that is best for you.

Readiness: Consider the most logical timeframe to have an internship. Remember your time commitments based on the number of courses you're taking, student organization participation, other jobs, and your personal life. If you need help updating your resume, make an appointment with a career advisor so that you are ready to apply to opportunities.

Internships can be pursued at any point in your undergraduate or graduate career. For many graduate and professional school students, internships or practicums are an integral part of their program.

Students should begin searching for an internship about three to six months before they want to start working. Summer internships are most often posted throughout the year, with the peak of posting happening in late-January/early-February. But, note that some summer internships have deadlines as early as October and November, especially competitive fields and government organizations.

There is no set number for how many internships students can apply to. It is encouraged for students to apply to multiple internships. Typically, students may apply to a dozen internships before finding a right fit. Be resilient and consistent. The perfect internship may be around the corner.

Obtaining an internship is an involved process, and the students who find the most success are those who are diligent and thoughtful in their approach. A well-formulated strategy will help you achieve your goals.

A common mistake many students make is to assume that the process of securing an internship ends when a resume or CV is submitted. In fact, the process requires more time and activity that should begin months in advance of an anticipated start date. Internship strategies are individualized to each student, but there are some activities that should be universal to all searches, including:

  • Researching organizations of interest
  • Customizing each resume and cover letter to the position at hand
  • Communicating with recruiters
  • Attending information sessions, networking events, and career fairs
  • Connecting with student peers who have interned with the company previously
  • Networking with alumni and other professionals in the organization
  • Preparing in advance for an interview
  • Speaking with your professors, faculty, and university staff

Students are highly encouraged to schedule an appointment with a career advisor via Handshake to formulate a personalized strategy.

Depending on your degree plan requirements, you may be eligible to receive academic credit for your internship. This varies by academic program, so please be sure to reach out to Academic Advising or your academic department for any specific degree requirements.

Please be advised of Career Center internship requirements before enrolling in an internship course.

  • Be registered and currently enrolled in a UTRGV academic, degree-seeking program with a declared major
  • Be in good academic standing (2.5 cumulative GPA for undergraduate students and 3.0 cumulative GPA for graduate students)
  • Have completed at least one semester at UTRGV
  • Meet any additional requirements or conditions imposed by your academic department or school

Get Started! Find Jobs and Internships

Pursuing an internship is no easy task. Time and effort is needed to find the best opportunity for you. Listed below are tools, programs, and resources that can help maximize your search strategy and land you the right internship.

Are you ready to jumpstart your career? Let's get started!

Jobs and Internships Accordion

Handshake is UTRGV's job search platform for on-campus, work-study, part-time and full-time jobs and internships.

  • Find opportunities with on-campus departments, local startups, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, government organizations, and more.
  • Once your profile is complete, Handshake will show you internships and jobs that match your majors, interests, and skills.
  • Employers can message students with event invites, interview requests, and other opportunities.

Getting Started

An account has already been created for you. Take these steps to log in:

  1. Go to your MyUTRGV page.
  2. Log in with your UTRGV email and password.
  3. Click on the Handshake icon.

If you are having issues logging into Handshake, please call 956-665-2243 or email careercenter@utrgv.edu.

The Student Experience Internship Program is an initiative that provides on-campus internship opportunities for students to grow in skill, expand in learning, and realize their potential through an enriched internship experience.

From finding new skills and passions to gaining confidence in a professional setting, the Student Experience Internship (SEI) program can help you take a big step toward finding success after college.

  • Paid internship @ $12/hr
  • Learn more about your prospective field of interest by taking your education beyond the classroom
  • Develop critical skills such as time and project management, communication, research, and problem-solving
  • Exclusive networking and professional development opportunities
  • Flexible work schedules while going to school
  • Experience to add on your resume
Visit the SEI program page and learn about eligibility requirements, student criteria, and how to apply.

The LEAD Internship Initiative is a collaboration between Workforce Solutions (WFS), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and employers who can offer paid internships to postsecondary UTRGV students with productive and meaningful work assignments and learning components related to their major. Students will gain professional soft skills knowledge, job interview skills, and paid work experience. It is an opportunity for students to gain a competitive edge to fill high-demand jobs in the region and meet employers’ needs.

The internship program is an 8–week work period in which students gain work experience while enrolled in school. In some cases, students may enroll in an internship course (although not required) in addition to their work experience and earn income to support their education.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

  • Fall 2023 start date
  • 8-week internship duration
  • Stipend of $12.00/hr for a total of 160 hours
  • Internships available in marketing, graphic design, manufacturing, web development, and more!

Learn more about the program

Handshake is not your only resource in finding internship opportunities. We have compiled a list of internship job sites that will benefit you in your search for an internship opportunity.

  • Texas Internship Challenge, making it easy for students to find internships.
  • Student + Startups, connecting vetted candidate with local San Antonio companies
  • FindSpark, a community dedicated to setting up young professionals for career success.
  • Internships.com, where you can find the right internship for you.
  • WayUp, land an internship with startups, Fortune 500 companies, or everything in between.
  • Indeed, where you can find a great place to intern along with 14 million other individuals.
  • USAJobs, where you can find your fit in the Federal Government.
  • LinkedIn, a place to build a professional profile, network, and find opportunities.
  • AfterCollege, where you can discover entry-level jobs and internships.
  • Glassdoor - Find an internship that fits your life.
  • InternJobs, a place where you can kick-start your career.
  • Idealist - Change requires action. Start here.

Premier Internship Programs

We find many of our students find success and develop a multitude of skills through the following internship programs including the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Archer Center Fellowship Program, and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). Take advantage of applying to scholarships, internships, or getting involved in other networking and experiential learning opportunities.
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Got an Internship? Let us Know!

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Contact Us

Brownsville: BINAB 1.105
Edinburg: ESTAC 2.101

Email: careercenter@utrgv.edu

Phone: Brownsville (956) 882-5627
Phone: Edinburg (956) 665-2243

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