SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Internships

Find a Job or Internship (SIPALink)
Federal Work-Study Program
Travel Grant Program
Information for International Students
Career Services Forms
Frequently Asked Questions

OCS is your connection to employers from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors that interview and recruit SIPA students for internships, summer associate positions, part-time and Work-Study positions. If you are looking for a full-time, permanent position for after graduation, please review Full-time Recruitment.

Eligibility

Internships are an integral part of the student experience at SIPA. In order to be eligible for an internship, you must be a matriculated student at SIPA.  Most students are required to conduct an internship as part of their academic coursework, and you may conduct an internship anytime during your tenure at SIPA. Please check with your respective program for any special parameters with regard to the internship requirement.  International students should be aware of special regulations when seeking paid internships in the United States. Please review Information for International Students for details.

Internship Registration

Students register for internship credits as they would for any class and submit paperwork on completion of their internships to meet the internship requirement. Please review the SIPA Internship Requirement section (located under Frequently Asked Questions) for details about registration, paperwork submission, and waivers.

Find an Internship

All recruiting at SIPA takes place through SIPAlink. You will use SIPAlink to apply for internships, participate in resume collections, sign up for on-campus interview and mock interview time slots, and register for career events. Please also review Recruitment Guidelines to learn about access to OCS's services and those at other schools at Columbia University.

Career Resources

In order to help you with your independent internship search, OCS provides you with many helpful resources.  Career Resources is an excellent web page that includes sample cover letters and resumes, resume supplements, MIA and MPA job search fact sheets, and links to helpful websites broken down by sector and functional area.

The Career Resources page also links to the SIPA Alumni and Student Network on LinkedIn which as more than 4,000 members.  The SIPA LinkedIn group contains graduates from diverse career fields and is an excellent source for networking and obtaining informational interview contacts.

In addition, the internship reports of your fellow students have been compiled by organization and are available in the Internship Report Database in SIPAlink. Also, take advantage of the many publications in our Resource Room (located in Room 420) to assist you with your internship research.

The Importance of Starting Your Internship Search Early

Your search for a summer or semester-long internship should begin as soon as you arrive in September, especially if you are looking for a summer associate position in financial services or consulting. Employer information sessions open to first- and second-year students begin early in the fall. On-campus interviews for summer internships begin late in the fall semester. A relevant internship is an important step in your career development. The experience and networking contacts you gain will serve as vital stepping stones to landing your dream job after graduation. Therefore, you must stay on top of your internship search by researching organizations that interest you, polishing your interview skills, and preparing your marketing materials such as targeted resumes and cover letters.

Implement an Internship Search Strategy

Your search strategy should include all of the following because a multi-faceted approach is most likely to lead to success:

• Treat your internship search like a class by scheduling the same time slot each week.

• Regularly check SIPAlink to learn about available opportunities.

• Attend SIPA employer-related events including Information Sessions, panels and   conferences to network and gather contact information.

• Get your targeted resume and cover letter ready.

• Search through the SIPA Alumni and Student Network and SIPA Global Connections Alumni Directory to find contacts in organizations and fields of interest to you.

• Chat with second-year students to learn about their internship experiences in different organizations and attend internship panels hosted by OCS and the concentration programs.

• Review internship reports in the Internship Report Database in SIPAlink and career research materials on the Career Resources page.

• Meet with an OCS adviser and/or a SIPA Career Coach for guidance and support in your internship search.

 

Disclaimer: Columbia University does not operate or endorse any of the jobs or internships listed herein, and has no control over the terms and conditions thereof. Therefore, the University accepts no responsibility for students engaged in any job or internship identified on any of its web pages.