COS Internship Program, Visalia CA

Welcome to the COS Internship Program Website.

What is an Internship?

Internships are a great way to "test-drive" career possibilities. By participating in an internship, you gain hands-on experience and enhance your knowledge of a career field.

Internships

• typically are one-time work or service experiences related to a student's major or career goal
• generally involve a student working in a professional setting under the supervision and monitoring of practicing professionals
• can be paid or unpaid and the student may or may not receive academic credit for performing the internship
• are structured educational experiences which incorporate productive work experience as a regular part of a college student's curriculum 

Internships can help you:

• learn about a career field from the inside
• decide if this is the right career field for you
• work alongside a professional in your chosen career area
• gain new skills and add to your knowledge base 
• gain confidence in your own abilities
• apply some of the ideas you've learned in school 
• gain the opportunity to practice your communication and teamwork skills
• meet new people and practice your networking skills
• gather evidence that you have initiative, are reliable and have a sense of responsibility
• provide a bridge between school and the professional world
• add a v aluable addition to your resume
• enhance your application to Graduate School
• open the door to a job offer or a recommendation about the next steps you should take on your career path 

During an internship, you will:

• learn more about a specific industry / field
• test career choices
• gain real world work experience and develop professional competence
• become more familiar with specific work functions and learn career-related skills
• develop values and confidence, assertiveness, and decision-making abilities
• work as part of a team
• learn and improve specific skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, new computer applications, interpersonal skills, networking and presentation skills as well as product, company, and career knowledge
• witness classroom theories and principles being applied in real world situations
• increase your marketability
• gain experience in job-seeking skills such as resume and cover letter preparation and interviewing