Your Internship Timeline
Plan your path from freshman year to landing your dream internship and career
Internships: How to Find Them & When to Apply
Your roadmap to landing an internship in any business field
What is an Internship?
An internship is a short-term work experience offered by companies and other organizations for people—usually students—to get some entry-level exposure to a particular industry or field.
Benefits of Internships
- Real-world experience: Apply classroom concepts to actual business problems and decision-making
- Skill development: Gain proficiency in industry-specific software, tools, and professional skills
- Career exploration: Confirm whether a particular career path is right for you
- Professional network: Build relationships with mentors and colleagues who can help your career
- Job offers: Many internships convert to full-time offers—some companies hire 50-80% of their interns
- Resume builder: Internship experience makes you significantly more competitive for post-graduation roles
- Competitive advantage: Students with internships receive more job offers and higher starting salaries
Your Internship Timeline
Plan your path from freshman year to your dream internship
Focus: Build foundation and explore
- Complete 16 credit hours with strong GPA
- Join major-specific clubs and organizations
- Attend COBA career events and workshops
- Start building LinkedIn profile
- Meet with COBA Professional Development team
Focus: Develop skills and start networking
- Complete 16 credit hours, maintain strong GPA
- Gain relevant certifications for your major
- Attend career fair (practice for next year)
- Build technical skills (Excel, software, etc.)
- Connect with alumni on LinkedIn
Focus: Gain any experience
- Work any job (shows work ethic and responsibility)
- Take online courses relevant to your major
- Read industry publications and books
- Network with family/friends in your field
- Volunteer for organizations related to your interests
Focus: Prepare for recruiting season
- Complete 16 credit hours, keep GPA strong
- Join major-specific organizations (Investment Fund, ENACTUS, etc.)
- Perfect your resume with help from COBA team
- Start researching companies and positions
- Practice interview skills and elevator pitch
Focus: Apply aggressively
- Complete 16 credit hours
- Attend career fair - apply to 20+ companies
- Apply online to 50+ internships
- Network with alumni on LinkedIn
- Practice interviews constantly
- Follow up on all applications
🎯 INTERNSHIP GOAL!
- Complete your first major-related internship
- Excel in your role and exceed expectations
- Build professional network
- Secure strong recommendations
- Position yourself for return offer or next opportunity
Focus: Junior year recruiting (most critical)
- Complete 16 credit hours
- Participate in leadership opportunities
- Apply for JUNIOR summer internships early (many deadlines in fall!)
- Network aggressively with target companies
- Update resume with sophomore internship experience
Focus: Secure junior internship & continue applications
- Complete 16 credit hours
- Accept junior year internship offer
- Continue pursuing additional certifications
- Build advanced skills in your field
- Maintain relationships with previous internship contacts
🎯 CRITICAL INTERNSHIP!
- Excel in junior year internship
- This often converts to full-time offer
- Build relationships for references
- Learn as much as possible
- Position yourself for return offer
Focus: Finish strong and transition to career
- Complete remaining credit hours
- Accept full-time offer (ideally from internship)
- Complete any remaining certifications
- Prepare for career start
- Give back by mentoring underclassmen
🎉 Start your professional career!
- Begin full-time role
- Continue learning and growing
- Stay connected with ACU COBA network
- Give back to future ACU students
Although you can have as many internship experiences as you'd like, many students will choose to pursue their internship the summer before their senior year (junior year summer). However, the more internships you complete, the more competitive you'll be. Many top students complete 2-3 internships before graduation.
Finance/Accounting: Applications often open in August-September for the following summer
Tech/CS: Rolling applications throughout the year, peak in fall
Marketing: Spring recruiting is common, but apply year-round
Consulting/Management: Structured recruiting in fall for next summer
Ready to Start Your Internship Search?
Visit our resources page for resume templates, cover letter guides, and job search platforms
View All Resources →Need Personalized Guidance?
Schedule a meeting with COBA Professional Development for help with your internship search
Schedule a Meeting →