LibGuides: Career Guide: Internships & Experiential Learning

Learn about Internships & Experiential Learning at HACC!

Welcome and Career Services Contacts!

Learn about internship and experiential learning opportunities here, on HACC’s Career Services webpages, within HACC’s College Central Network (CCN) Career Services Platform, and by contacting Kathleen Dormer Carusone, HACC’s Internship & Experiential Learning Opportunities Coordinator, at careerservices@hacc.edu.

HACC's Career Services Website
HACC's College Central Network (CCN) Career Services Platform
College Central Network (CCN) is available to students, alumni and employers. Internships, volunteer, experiential learning opportunities, part-time, seasonal, full-time and on-campus employment positions are posted there. Valuable resources like the Career Mentoring Network, webinars, podcasts, an e-portfolio builder and other career services tools are available for you to use on CCN. HACC career events and Career Services announcements are centrally located on your landing page! If you have yet to activate your CCN account please visit the Career Services Events webpage to join a workshop and learn how!
HACC Career Services Contacts
The webpage gives contact information for Career Services staff specializing in career development, education, outcomes, and employer partnerships.
For more information on internships, experiential learning opportunities and workshops or to make an appointment with Kathleen Dormer Carusone, HACC’s Internship & Experiential Learning Opportunities Coordinator, please visit the HACC Career Services Contacts webpage or email careerservices@hacc.edu.

Types of Experiential Learning Opportunities

Informational Interviews: Now, it is YOUR turn to do the interviewing so you can learn from an experienced professional in your field of interest/study all about that career or occupation you are interested in or have chosen.

Job Shadowing: Explore, first-hand occupations and careers that interest you.

What Is Job Shadowing? Complete Guide for Students

Mock Interviews: Practice general and specific career field interviewing skills with professionals in your major/program to learn how to ace your next interview.

Mentoring Program: A mentor is an experienced professional in an industry who is willing to provide services to a mentee (student) so that the student can learn more about a particular industry, field, or position for which the student has interest. HACC’s Career Mentoring Network can be located within your HACC College Central Network (CCN) account.

Volunteering: Volunteerism is a wonderful way for students to build work experience and also help an organization. (Please note that the Fair Standards Labor Act does prohibit volunteerism in the for-profit/private sector; however, volunteerism is permitted for public sector, non-profit and religious organizations.)

11 Benefits of Volunteering

Tours: Learn about various tours for different companies, organizations and facilities both virtually and in-person.

Service Learning: Service learning is usually a short-term experience and is developed in conjunction with a particular course. Students typically perform a set duration of work and then develop a report or presentation on the experience.

Research Projects: Various organizations and nonprofits often need assistance with research projects (community based and by major/program/industry) and are interested in student researchers.

Studio Performances: Students in various performance arts gain valuable hands-on experience in studios related to their chosen major such as Music Business, Fine and Performing and Visual Arts.

Searching for An Internship

Once you have chosen a major, completed pre-requisite courses in your major, or at the very least, identified a career field of interest in which you desire doing an internship to gain experience, you will want to create your search plan. You may also make an appointment to discuss internships by emailing careerservices@hacc.edu and request to meet with Kathleen, For details on the workshop How to Create an Internship Search Action Plan offered every semester visit HACC’s Career Services Events webpage here. In the meantime, you may try these helpful resources to get you started.

Student's Guide to Internship Planning

Infographic with list of steps to follow for successful internship planning

The HACC Student’s Guide to Internship Planning

Are you thinking about an internship or experiential learning opportunity? HACC is here for you. Please follow these steps to ensure you’re set up for success.

Read Program Course Descriptions Please visit The HACC Student’s Guide to Internship Planning Supplemental Workbook to learn about YOUR program internship course descriptions by course catalog year.
Email YOUR Program Internship Faculty Lead Please visit The HACC Student’s Guide to Internship Planning Supplemental Workbook for a list of Program Internship Faculty Leads. Please ensure you are eligible to complete an internship. If you are eligible, do you have an internship site? If so, please work with your Program Internship Faculty Lead for approval. If your internship is approved, your Program Internship Faculty Lead can explain how you should register for the appropriate internship course. If you are not eligible, please note that there are other experiential learning opportunities for you to experience! Please contact Kathleen Dormer Carusone, HACC’s Internship & Experiential Learning Opportunities Coordinator, using Navigate or email CareerServices@hacc.edu.
Complete YOUR Internship Paperwork & Navigate Survey Your Program Internship Faculty Lead will provide you with paperwork to complete. After your internship site is approved, you have registered for the appropriate internship course and completed your necessary paperwork, please complete the required Career Services Internship information survey in Navigate.
Activate YOUR College Central Network (CCN) Account Please activate YOUR College Central Network (CCN) account. If you need assistance, please contact careerservices@hacc.edu.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Dormer Carusone at careerservices@hacc.edu and ask to join the IELOPs D2L Center.

The HACC Student's Guide to Internship Planning
PDF of Infographic with links.

Internet Internship Platforms & Boards

HACC's College Central Network (CCN) Career Services Platform
This is HACC’s Career Services Platform and is available to students, alumni and employers. Search for Internships and experiential learning opportunities here. Valuable resources like the Career Mentoring Network, webinars, podcasts, can help you learn more about IELOPs.
Internships.com
This very popular website allows you to search for internships by categories, cities, hot markets and also has various helpful articles for students seeking internships.
Google
This Search Engine is incredibly effective for assisting you in your search. Just key in your search terms such as Internships in...then add the town, city, or company of which you have interest. Then you can research the options listed.
CollegeGrad
This established website allows you to search for internships by title, industry and location. Plus, it has been a valuable resource for entry level employment as well!
YouTern
This unique website allows you to create a profile that will match you with internships related to your criteria.
TheMuse
This website is great for the next generation to research companies, careers and networking too.

Internships and Workshops

Are you interested in doing an internship and want to know how the process works here at HACC?

Once you have nailed the internship interview, been offered the internship, accepted the internship offer and have had the internship approved by your Program’s Faculty Lead, join me for the How to Succeed on YOUR Internship! workshop offered every semester.

Career Services Events
Visit the Career Services Events webpage for the current listing of workshops.

Non-Profit & Volunteer Internship Resources

Idealist.org
This organization’s website allows you to search for internships in the non-profit (public organizations and agencies) sector by location, major, organization name, industry and more.
NetImpact.org
This organization’s website allows you to search for internships in grassroots global movements such as sustainability and corporate social responsibility and governance.
Work for Good
This organization’s website allows you to connect with and search for internships with mission driven organizations such as human rights, civil rights, children’s rights, environmental conservancy and many others.
Service Learning & Volunteer Opportunities
The US Department of Education promotes various national volunteer and service learning programs, some of which may qualify for student loan forgiveness. You may research that information there as well.
Volunteer Match
This website allows you to match yourself with a cause of your passion.

Local, State & Federal Government Internships

County Government Websites

Below are county government websites where you can find information for various county departments along with internship opportunities either directly by internship name OR via that county's department OR via the employment opportunities section.

State Resources

State and Local Internet Directory
The State and Local Internet directory provides convenient one-stop access to the websites of thousands of state agencies and city and county governments and other organizations. Then you may search those for internship opportunities.
Pennsylvania CareerLink
This site is for Job Seekers which includes students searching for internships and apprenticeship opportunities. There are also videos to watch about these opportunities with the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Employment
Your source for internship and/or work study opportunities within the various federal government agencies and departments.
PA Attorney General's Office
Your source for internship and/or work study opportunities within the PA Attorney General’s Office.

Federal Resources

Career One Stop
Your source for internship information and searching for internships in Federal Government agencies and departments.
USA Jobs
Your source for internship and/or work study opportunities within the various federal government agencies and departments.

Books for Internships and Experiential Learning

Launch Your Career: How ANY Student Can Create Relationships with Professionals and Land the Jobs and Internships They Want by Sean O'Keefe
Publication Date: 2021-05-18
Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau
Publication Date: 2017
How to launch a profitable side hustle in just 27 days. Designed for the busy and impatient, this detailed roadmap will show you how to select, launch, refine, and make money from your side hustle in under a month.
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Publication Date: 2017
A compilation of tools, tactics, and habits from 130+ of the world's top performers. From iconic entrepreneurs to elite athletes, from artists to billionaire investors, their short profiles can help you answer life's most challenging questions, achieve extraordinary results, and transform your life.
The Ultimate Guide to Internships by Eric Woodard
Publication Date: 2015
In these pages the author lays out the basics of the internship game, the questions to ask when applying, and the best courses of action for turning an internship into a desirable career.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Topics & Resources

Trying to decide if, when & how to disclose a disability status? Learn more by checking out any of the resources below.

Youth, Disclosure, and the Workplace Why, When, What, and How
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy offers an insightful one-page article of what to consider when trying to determine if, when and how to disclose a disability status.
Disability :IN
The leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. A network of over 400 corporations expands opportunities for people with disabilities across enterprises. Their central office and 25 Affiliates serve as the collective voice to effect change for people with disabilities in business.
Workforce Recruitment Program
Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private-sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
Job Accommodation Network
Federal resources for employees and employers. JAN provides free consulting services for all employees, regardless of the medical condition. Services include one-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources, and ADA compliance assistance.
Disability Services at HACC
Also, please know that you can meet with a Student Access Services advisor to determine what accommodations and options are available for you at HACC by clicking on the link above.