The Cooperative Education and Internship Office has now started the process for internships for the spring 2005 semester.
Even though it is still early, the office has had businesses and students sign up for the spring semester.
“The majority of the students who have now registered are, for the most part, returning students,” said Wayne Speer, assistant director of Career Placement and Internship Services. “The businesses that are currently on file are the ones that have an ongoing position that could be filled anytime.”
The office is still sending out letters to employers regarding the internships that they may need filled for the upcoming semester.
“If it is a regular employer that has done business with the office before, we send them a letter reminding them that now is the time to send in their positions,” Speer said. “We also send in the credentials of the students that we have on hand that will fit the positions that are already on file.”
The office also sends out letters to companies that have used ETSU to help them find interns before.
“We also send out information to them letting them know what is available for them if they choose to use our internship office,” he said.
It is also important that the new organizations get their job in early so that it can be approved and then the process can begin for filling the position.
Of all the semesters, spring is usually the quietest. The office will place 20 to 40 students in internships for the spring semester and will contact approximately 400 businesses to check for the need for internships.
The internship and other job opportunities will remain low for spring for the second year in a row.
“We have been in this cycle for 24 months now,” Speer said. “The economy has been weak. Not just for internships but for everything.”
The manufacturing, industrial and other production jobs are remaining on the low end of the spectrum, while environmental health, computer science and business is staying in high demand.
Speer attributes the low number of internships in the production field to the cost of manufacturing goods.
“The co-op and internship performance results are directly related to regional costs,” he said. “If the raw materials cost more then it will cost more all the way down the line and the result will be fewer jobs.”
However, students do not need to worry if the internship office doesn’t have their position in their desired field on file in the office. They can always use a backdoor internship, where students can find their own internship opportunity, and bring it to the office to be approved. It will count for the same credit as if they got it through the office.
Students still have time to sign up for an internship opportunity for the spring semester because classes are not starting until Jan. 18.
“That is a later start time than last spring so it gives everybody more time,” Speer said.
The time frame for applying for the internship services is the same as registering for class. The last day to sign up for this is also the last day to add a class.
Interested students can stop by the internship office in the Advisement Resource and Career Center on the second floor of the Culp Center to sign up for internship placement.

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