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Honolulu Community College

Career Services

Internship Information for Students

Looking for work experience related to your program of study? Want to gain work experience before graduating? An internship can help you.

What is an Internship?

  • Usually a short-term employment opportunity with a company
  • Helps you apply what you are learning in class to a real life work environment
  • Allows you to gain real life work experience

View Internship Listings

Internships provide you valuable work experience even before you graduate. Exposure to a real world work environment can help you understand the work expectations and behaviors necessary to be successful in your first job. lnternships also provide you opportunities to build connections with professionals in the industry that may lead to full-time job opportunities.

As an intern, employers understand that you are still in college and that school is a priority. Employers offer guidance and mentorships to interns during the internship.

Some of the valuable skills that internships can provide you while on the job:

  • Improved communication – learn how to communicate with professionals {written, verbal)
  • Teamwork – learn how to work with a variety of people
  • Professionalism – understand workplace culture, etiquette, expectations
  • Critical Thinking – how to think out of the box and apply your classroom knowledge in the workplace
  • Career Development – explore different career paths within a company and get firsthand experience of what it is like to work in the industry.

There is no set time on when you should get an internship, however, depending on the type of internship, the employer may request that you have completed certain classes prior to starting the internship. Many students find internships during the summer when classes are not in session which allows them to work more hours then they normally would be able to during the semester. Other students are able to balance a part-time internship during the semester if their class schedule allows.

It varies, but many employers will hire interns prior to the fall or spring semester or summer sessions starting. Larger, more established internship programs will start recruiting earlier than others; some even six (6) months before the start date (i.e. – applications for a summer internship might be due anywhere between October – December)

To learn more about internships for your major, please contact the Employment Experiential Learning Counselor, Kristi Teruya at 808-847-9804 or teruyak@hawaii.edu.

  • It does not guarantee you a permanent position with the company.
  • Your duties should not be primarily composed of menial tasks like making coffee, cleaning, making copies, etc. unless it is a critical task to your field of study.
  • It should not be treated like a full-time permanent position.
  • The employer should not ask you to miss class to attend the internship (if working during the semester).

Majority of internships are paid. We encourage all employers to offer a paid internship.

Check back on this website for new internships. New internships will be updated periodically when
new internship opportunities become available. You can also view internships on the SECE
website.

Contact Kristi Teruya, Employment Experiential Learning Counselor, (808-847-9804, teruyak@hawaii.edu) for more information.

Contact Kristi Teruya, Employment Experiential Learning Counselor, (808-847-9804, teruayk@hawaii.edu) for assistance with resume and cover letter writing, interview tips and help
with applying for internships.

For more information about internships, please contact Kristi Teruya, Employment Experiential Learning
Counselor, at 808-847-9804 or teruyak@hawaii.edu.

Aerial view of campus and downtown honolulu

Get in Touch

Career Services
Kristi Teruya
Employment Experiential Learning Counselor
Building 7-320
Phone: (808) 847-9804
Email: teruyak@hawaii.edu