EDM, Electronic Design and Multimedia
The Robinson Center for Graphic Arts and Communication Design at the CCNY Art Department
EDM
Internship FAQ: Internship Procedures for Students
You may find internship opportunities on the web, on the EDM Club Facebook page, or through the Career Center in the NAC building.Please understand that EDM cannot find internships for every student. Many students find internships through various websites. We will post some openings on the EDM Club Facebook page. Often we will try to match the best students to interview for internships which require specific skill sets.
Internships are valuable whether or not you receive credit for them. Some internships require proof from the college that students will receive, or are eligible to receive, credit for the internship. If necessary, the Internship Advisor can provide a letter stating this.
To
get credit for your internship, here are the steps you need to take:
- Locate an internship opportunity, through a professor, Office of Career Services or on your own BEFORE the semester starts.
- Fill out the Application for Independent
Study and Creative Projects forms (you can get this in the Art Department
Office, Room 109 or by email from the Art Advisor, Ms. Suerynn Lee at slee1(at)ccny.cuny.edu). The application requires a 100-200 word Project Proposal
(a description of the duties and expectations of your specific internship).
- Email both forms for signature to Professor He BEFORE or during registration.
Either the Internship
Advisor or a different EDM Professor/mentor for your internship must sign the forms.
- Next, get the Art
Department Chair's signature on the Application by email by sending the signed forms to Ms. Lee.
Once you have all the signatures, email completed copies of the Application and Project Proposal to the Faculty
Internship Advisor (Prof. He), the Art Department (Ms. Lee), and keep one copy for yourself).
- Contact Ms. Henderson in the Art Office khenderson(at)ccny.cuny.edu for registration procedures.
- To get a grade at the end of your
internship, obtain a letter from your
internship supervisor evaluating your performance in detail. The
letter goes to the Faculty Internship Advisor and must be sent from
your supervisor's work email account as a PDF on company letterhead or
delivered as a hardcopy in sealed in an envelope and signed by the
supervisor along the flap.
- Letters must be received by the last day of classes, according to the College calendar.
Either the Internship Advisor or a different EDM Professor/mentor for your internship must sign the forms.
Once you have all the signatures, email completed copies of the Application and Project Proposal to the Faculty Internship Advisor (Prof. He), the Art Department (Ms. Lee), and keep one copy for yourself).
The Faculty Internship Advisor [or the faculty member who signed on your internship] will enter a grade based on your internship supervisor's evaluation.
*** Internships will not be processed once general class registration ends.
The Internship Faculty Advisor is Professor Sherry Muyuan He.Internship Forms & Instructions
Download internship instructions along with all the necessary paper work. Internship applications are for the current semester only, so remember to renew your internship application at the start of a new semester.How to be a Successful Intern
Follow these simple guidelines to make a good impression.
• Be reliable.
This is the single most important rule! Be on time or early. Don't make any excuses; just BE there. Once you have agreed on a schedule, stick to it, no matter what.
• Be positive.
Be friendly and upbeat. Show that you are happy for this opportunity. Have a good attitude. Internships are competitive; remember that it is a privilege to be where you are. Having this internship on your resume will be valuable when you begin your job search later on.
•Be observant.
On your first day, check out what everyone is wearing. and how they are behaving. Try to be aware of what is considered acceptable attire and try to emulate it. It‚s different from dressing for school; when in a professional environment, you must dress accordingly.
• Pay attention to the interaction between department members.
If you watch carefully, you will pick up signals that will tell you how to conduct yourself professionally, and you will begin to learn how the creative process works. Ask politely if you may be included in meetings. Remember that you are there only to observe, and you should assume that the proceedings of the meeting are confidential.
• Be respectful.
Important business is going on. Understand that people are busy and are juggling many tasks. Although every creative environment is different, don't be fooled by appearances. While the atmosphere may seem casual, staffers are responsible for meeting goals and deadlines; the work is very serious even if people seem to be joking around.
• Be proactive.
Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. Ask your supervisor if he/she needs anything at all. If not, ask everyone else in the art department. You are not only there to learn, but to help with whatever tasks you are asigned.
This is the single most important rule! Be on time or early. Don't make any excuses; just BE there. Once you have agreed on a schedule, stick to it, no matter what.
• Be positive.
Be friendly and upbeat. Show that you are happy for this opportunity. Have a good attitude. Internships are competitive; remember that it is a privilege to be where you are. Having this internship on your resume will be valuable when you begin your job search later on.
•Be observant.
On your first day, check out what everyone is wearing. and how they are behaving. Try to be aware of what is considered acceptable attire and try to emulate it. It‚s different from dressing for school; when in a professional environment, you must dress accordingly.
• Pay attention to the interaction between department members.
If you watch carefully, you will pick up signals that will tell you how to conduct yourself professionally, and you will begin to learn how the creative process works. Ask politely if you may be included in meetings. Remember that you are there only to observe, and you should assume that the proceedings of the meeting are confidential.
• Be respectful.
Important business is going on. Understand that people are busy and are juggling many tasks. Although every creative environment is different, don't be fooled by appearances. While the atmosphere may seem casual, staffers are responsible for meeting goals and deadlines; the work is very serious even if people seem to be joking around.
• Be proactive.
Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. Ask your supervisor if he/she needs anything at all. If not, ask everyone else in the art department. You are not only there to learn, but to help with whatever tasks you are asigned.
• Be realistic.
Don't expect to do design work right away. You may be asked to do mundane tasks such as copying, faxing, filing or returning artwork until you have shown that you can handle more responsibility and that you can be trusted to follow through with your work.
• Be diligent.
Complete all assignments on time. Work turned in late, no matter how good, may be of no value. Try to go above and beyond what you are asked to do. Take full responsibilty for your work. If your supervisor has to work late, ask whether you are needed before going home.
• Be helpful.
Offer to go out for snacks or soda; this shows that you are willing to help make staffers' jobs easier with even the smallest of tasks. Remember that simply by being in a professional creative environment and observing how team members interact, you are gaining valuable experience in learning how to conduct yourself in the 'real' world.
• Communicate.
Don't be shy. Don't wait for your supervisor to ask how you are doing with a task; keep your supervisor informed frequently. Don't be afraid to ask questions; you are there to learn and most members of the department are happy to answer your questions.
• Remember, you have a lot at stake.
If you make a good impression, there is a possibility that you may be offered freelance (paying ) work and possibly even a staff position (this happens more often than you think!).
Even if your internship ends and there are no immediate opportunities, if you make a good impression you may be called back when a spot opens up; you will have an inside track because you are a 'known quantity'. And even if that doesn't happen, or if you want to try a different area of graphic design, if you leave a good impression you can ask your supervisor whether you may use him/her as a reference when you are job-hunting.
Don't expect to do design work right away. You may be asked to do mundane tasks such as copying, faxing, filing or returning artwork until you have shown that you can handle more responsibility and that you can be trusted to follow through with your work.
• Be diligent.
Complete all assignments on time. Work turned in late, no matter how good, may be of no value. Try to go above and beyond what you are asked to do. Take full responsibilty for your work. If your supervisor has to work late, ask whether you are needed before going home.
• Be helpful.
Offer to go out for snacks or soda; this shows that you are willing to help make staffers' jobs easier with even the smallest of tasks. Remember that simply by being in a professional creative environment and observing how team members interact, you are gaining valuable experience in learning how to conduct yourself in the 'real' world.
• Communicate.
Don't be shy. Don't wait for your supervisor to ask how you are doing with a task; keep your supervisor informed frequently. Don't be afraid to ask questions; you are there to learn and most members of the department are happy to answer your questions.
• Remember, you have a lot at stake.
If you make a good impression, there is a possibility that you may be offered freelance (paying ) work and possibly even a staff position (this happens more often than you think!).
Even if your internship ends and there are no immediate opportunities, if you make a good impression you may be called back when a spot opens up; you will have an inside track because you are a 'known quantity'. And even if that doesn't happen, or if you want to try a different area of graphic design, if you leave a good impression you can ask your supervisor whether you may use him/her as a reference when you are job-hunting.