Welcome to a semester of wearing nothing but black.

Internships in New York are especially competitive because of the number of local students and a dramatic increase in the academic programs that encourage or require internships as part of core undergraduate and graduate expectations.

Internships in the arts and creative industries are especially competitive because the city is a major generative center. But this also means that there are a wide variety of high-quality opportunities to consider.

Each internship incorporates specific learning goals set by the student in concert with the faculty advisor, and internship sponsor. Some internships are full-time (four or five days a week), others are one or two days a week. For this reason, it is possible to have more than one internship during the semester.             

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

The NYAP’s reputation and connections are a great advantage but it is important to your overall experience that you be well-prepared for the process of getting work as an intern. Most of the internship sponsors we work with will require a cover letter and resume before inviting you for an interview.

GENERAL ADVICE

• All materials should be legible and succinct.


• Try to keep cover letters and resumes to one page each.


• Do not use fancy fonts or formats.


• Don’t just spell-check, proof-read carefully.


• Electronic submissions should be sent as PDFs so that the layout remains as intended. You may want to save a master copy in WORD so it can be updated.

COVER LETTERS

Though you can develop a template for cover letters that describe your core skills, you should customize the cover letter to address the specific internships you apply for. The letter should reflect your research of the organization, and your willingness and enthusiasm for supporting the work they do. Good cover letters take practice, so when you apply to NYAP you will be asked to prepare a cover letter to an organization in the field for discussion with your faculty advisor.

Cover letter samples below:

RESUMES

Avoid exaggeration and padding, but do include specific accomplishments of yours.


Avoid clichés and jargon. Write about your experience in more concrete terms. For example, instead of just saying you are a “self-starter” discuss something you initiated in response to a need. Instead of “people-‐person” talk how about your enjoyment of learning about or helping others supported your work.


Do include relevant extracurricular activities, volunteer jobs and independent projects that have given you an opportunity to demonstrate technical skills, initiative and the ability to follow-through.

Interview styles vary by field, individual personality and specific workplace culture. Some are casual, some are formal. Interviews give you and the potential internship sponsor a chance to see if there is a good fit in terms of skills required, personal presentation, and mutual goals.
Optimally, Artists, and organizations who work with NYAP will treat interns as young colleagues and as such make you part of their professional world. The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and genuine you will be in the interview.

Points in preparation

Do your homework about the organization or individual.

Prepare informed questions

This will demonstrate your interest in the job. Potential employers are happy to answer your questions in this context, but do not want to feel as if you are interviewing them. To learn about the internship, ask questions about specific tasks and the role of your department in the relation to the work of the company. If the job the interviewer describes does not include something specific you’re interested in you can ask if there would be an opportunity to explore that as your work progresses.

Do a practice interview

Many initial interviews are held via Skype or video conference. These can be challenging in terms of establishing rapport even for more experienced jobseekers. Though most of us are used to Facetime as a casual means of communication, a video job interview can be a bit trickier. We recommend you practice with friends and your faculty advisor. Here’s some useful advice from around the web about preparing for a video interview:

Be aware that you have one chance to make a first impression

Be on time. Keep in mind that though you need to get a sense of how the work will serve your goals, employers are primarily interested in how you can support the work of the organization or individual to whom you will report.

Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your interests

For example: How did you become interested in this kind of work? Why did you major in …? Why are you interested in working here? Tell me about a time when you had to juggle at tasks?

Be respectful and true to who you are

INTERNSHIPS AND LABOR RULES

Interns participating in an accredited educational program are not classed as employees by the Labor department and sponsors are not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in terms of benefits and compensation. In addition to the training in exchange for academic credit the FLSA exemption requires assurance that the students do not displace regular employees, are not entitled to wages; and not eligible for unemployment benefits at the end of the internship Some corporate entities are required by their internal policies to provide some compensation to interns but it is not a universal practice in the creative industries, and varies from industry to industry.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Write a note thanking the interviewer for his or her time and reiterating your interest in the position (if this is the case). Whether you want the job or not, a thank you email is appropriate. It is important to remember that you will be in the same situation as most beginning job seekers in this economy. If your interview goes well and the position addresses your interests, you should be ready to commit to the position if it is offered. Some internship sponsors make the decision on the spot. Others might take a day or two.

Stay in touch with your faculty advisor throughout this process. When you have your internships set you will sign an agreement with your internship sponsors, about learning goals hours and general duties. This document can be updated throughout the semester if needed.

A NOTE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA

Potential mentors do frequently google intern candidates or look them up on social media. Don’t post interview details on your social media. Throughout your interview and the semester, you should practice care and discretion in terms of what you share on your social media.