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Northern Vermont University is now part of Vermont State University! Please visit VermontState.edu for accurate information.

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Northern Vermont University will join with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023. Learn more and apply for fall 2023.

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Internships at Northern Vermont University-Johnson

Internships allow students to explore career opportunities, develop new skills, and establish a professional network. Many students report internships as a highlight of their academic experience. For more information on the NVU-Johnson internship experience, please contact your faculty advisor.

While some programs require internships, all students are strongly encouraged to do an internship. Internships are an important part of your education and allow you to apply classroom learning to the real world.  Internships help develop important critical skills that employers are seeking; they strengthen your professional network. Internships are often the first step to finding employment after graduation.

According to the 2019 NVU-Johnson Graduate Survey:

  • 45% of the students who interned (and completed the survey) are currently employed at the internship/practicum site
  • 5% of the students received a job offer at their internship site to continue but declined
  • 25% report being hired elsewhere because of internship experience

Clearly, internships matter! Seventy-five percent of our graduates who interned feel their internships were crucial in their job search success.

Internship Process

If you are just starting to seek an internship and want to know the steps to secure an internship, please read this document that details the process.

Departments that require an internship

Forms, links, and resources for internship seekers and employers are available below. As we continue transitioning to our new identity as Northern Vermont University, we are working to update our forms. Some forms and documents may refer to Johnson State College but are applicable to Northern Vermont University-Johnson.

College Central Network: Jobs and Internships

NVU-JOHNSON INTERNSHIP FORMS, GUIDES, RESOURCES, AND LINKS

Internship Opportunities

Search jobs posted at our school!There are countless internship opportunities available with local, state and national businesses, organizations and government agencies. The first step is identifying what you want to learn and where you want to learn it. Here are some steps you can take to identify potential opportunities.

  • Check College Central Network: A place for NVU students to learn about internship and job opportunities. Search opportunities by type.
  • Search Past Internship Sites (listed below), where other NVU-Johnson students have interned. A list of past internships is compiled by department.
  • Arrange an informational interview with a professional in the field(s) you are considering. Seek ideas about organizations and businesses that might be interested in interns.
  • Let professional organizations, your advisor, employers, instructors, family members and friends know you are seeking an internship. They may have some ideas.
  • Research regional and national career-exploration and job-search websites.
  • Attend local career fairs.

Local and State Organizations that Offer Internships or Can Assist the Search

  • Environmental and Health Sciences Internship Opportunities.
  • Green Mountain Massage School
  • Community Resource Directory 9-1-16 – Over 170 community-based organizations near to NVU-Johnson, focusing on Adult Education and Employment, Basic Needs(Food/Fuel/Housing/ Clothing), Behavioral Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health), Community Collaboratives and Volunteering, Court / Legal, Special Needs, Families as Partners, Health Care, Parenting / Child Development, Senior Services,  Schools/Supervisory Unions, and Support Groups.
  • Jobs In Vermont.com – Don’t just search for jobs, be found! Become a registered user today. Add your resume to the Applicant Database and be found by employers before the job is posted. Consider looking at North Country Help Wanted.com.
  • Lamoille Region Chamber of Commerce – Check out the members’ directory for a comprehensive list of local businesses
  • Laraway Youth and Family Services
  • Leslie Kanat’s web site – An NVU-Johnson faculty in the Department of Environmental Sciences. His website has countless research opportunities, internships, and jobs.
  • National Life of Vermont
  • New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission – Since 1947, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission has been a leader in the fight for clean water. As a not-for-profit interstate agency, it serves and assists its member states (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, and VT) by coordinating activities and forums that encourage cooperation among the states, educating the public about key water quality issues, supporting research projects, training environmental professionals, and providing overall leadership in water management and protection.
  • New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service Jobs – Look here if you are interested in employment opportunities with the Department of Environmental Services, State of New Hampshire.
  • Seven Days Jobs in Vermont  – Seven Days lists employment opportunities around Vermont in the classifieds section of the print publications and has an extensive online job bank.
  • State of Vermont Employment – When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. That’s because – as an employer -the State of Vermont exists to protect, preserve and enhance the exceptional quality of life here in Vermont.
  • Internships in Vermont – Vermont Internships is designed for students to connect with Vermont employers and land great internship opportunities in technical, creative, and business pursuits.
  • Vermont AmeriCorps AmeriCorps is a National Service program which offers members an opportunity to make a big difference in their life and in the lives of those around them. It’s a chance to apply skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in Vermont’s communities. AmeriCorps is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
  • Vermont Business Links
  • Vermont Energy Investment Corporation– includes positions from marketing to finance, IT, and engineering. $15/hour.
  • Vermont Research on Adaption to Climate Change
  • Vermont Internships (from Vermont Technology Council) 
  • Vermont Intern Program (sponsored by VT Businesses for Social Responsibility focusing only on PAID internships)
  • Vermont Job Link – For Job Seekers, we’ve introduced an improved Job Quick Search feature. The new search has job search by city, with a radius around the city that can be changed. Changing the radius can expand the job search if the right jobs aren’t found on the first try. The search results also show a map that pinpoints each job’s location.
  • Vermont State Government Jobs – Department of Human Resources – This site lists current Vermont State government jobs open for application to the public and current state employees; internship opportunities are also listed.
  • VT 211 – Vermont 2-1-1 is the website and the number you dial to find out about hundreds of important community resources, like emergency food and shelter, disability services, counseling, senior services, healthcare, child care, drug and alcohol programs, legal assistance, transportation needs, educational and volunteer opportunities, and much more. Explore the VT-211 database and find organizations that align with your interests. Call their Human Resources and inquire about internship possibilities.

More Internship Opportunities

Bright (jobs in Vermont)
Bright (jobs nationally)
Career Builder
Good Food Jobs (Internships with a focus on food and sustainability)
Internships.com
Idealist.com
Indeed.com
InRoads Internships for Diverse Audiences
Jobs in Vermont via Indeed
Job Shadow
LinkedIn Internships (over 50,000 internships)
Linkup.com
National Science Foundation
Outdoor Education Internship Sites.pdf
Pre-Health/Sciences
SchoolSpring (for education)
Student Conservation Association
Sustainability Career Resources
The Vault 

How To Get An Internship: Advice And Tips For Jump Starting Your Career

Internship FAQ

View the Johnson Internship Program FAQ to learn:

  • What is an Internship?
  • Why Intern?
  • Am I Required to Take an Internship?
  • Where Can I Find Extensive Internship Resources?
  • Can I Take an Internship in the Summer?
  • Paid or Unpaid? What Should I Consider?
  • Can I Create My Own Internship?
  • What is the Internship Process?
  • How Can I Assess What Internship Would be a Good Fit for Me?
  • Is There a Deadline for The Internship Contract?
  • Who Is My Internship Faculty Supervisor?
  • What Makes a Strong Job Title in My Contract?
  • How Do I Create Strong Learning Objectives?
  • How Do I Determine a Research Paper Topic?
  • Where Do I Find the Internship Forms (contract, timesheet, evaluation, reflection guidelines, etc.)?
  • I Am Having Challenges On My Internship Site. What Should I Do?
  • What if I’m Not Getting Enough Direction?
  • How Do I Keep Track of My Internship Hours?
  • How Can I Capture the Internship on My Resume?
  • What Are Some Strong Examples of Internships on Resumes?
  • Do Internships Lead to Jobs?
  • Who Do I Contact for More Information on Internships?
Past Internship Sites

No matter your major, you’ll be able to find a high-impact internship that is in your area of interest.

Past Behavioral Science internships

Past Business and Economics internships

Past Environmental and Health Sciences internships

Past Education internships

Past Fine and Performing Arts internships

Past Humanities internships

Past Math internships

Past Writing and Literature internships

Internship Contract

The contract is an important part of the internship experience. Know what is expected of you and read the Student Internship Manual.

Complete the Internship Contract following the process determined by your department. See your faculty supervisor with any questions.

If you are a Lyndon student within these departments, here is your contract: ATM, BUS, CIS, CRJ, ENG, GEN, GLB, HIS, LIB, NAS/SCI, MAT, MBI, SOC, VIS

If you are a Lyndon student within these departments, here is your contract: PSY, COM, EDU, OEL, XSC

If you are a Johnson or Online student, here is your contract.

Internship Evaluation Forms

Evaluation is a critical part of the internship process. Not only does it give you the chance to reflect on your internship experience, but it also gives you the opportunity to help improve the experience for future interns and the site supervisors who host them.

Students are asked to complete two forms during the course of their internship.

1)  Student Self-Evaluation Internship Form: Students should complete this form at the mid-point of their internship and near the completion of the internship. Aside from a few small details, it is exactly the same form that your internship site supervisor will be filling out. You will be asked to evaluate yourself based on the same questions your site supervisor will evaluate you upon. This form also allows you to evaluate your site and your site supervisor.

2)  Faculty Supervisor Evaluation Form: Students should complete this form at the mid-point of their internship and near the completion of the internship. Your feedback on the quality of the supervision you received from your NVU-Johnson faculty supervisor will provide important feedback for your faculty supervisor. The information is confidential and will not be seen by your faculty supervisor. Please email this form to Susan Nichols, Assistant to the Provost, at Susan.Nichols@NorthernVermont.edu.

The next form is for the Internship Site Supervisor to complete.

Site Supervisor Evaluation of Student Intern: This form should be sent to the site supervisor at the mid-point of their internship and near the completion of the internship. Their feedback on the quality of the work you’re offered is important feedback for the intern and the faculty supervisor. The completed form should be sent to the faculty supervisor.

Questions should be directed to your faculty advisor.

Internship Timesheet Form

Use this form to monitor your hours on site. Have your site supervisor initial to verify your hours. All internships are 45/credits. As an intern, it is your responsibility to monitor your hours and make sure you will reach your target hours. For example, if you are pursuing a three credit (135 hour) internship, you should have approximately 68 hours by mid-semester. Hand in your timesheet to your faculty supervisor periodically, as agreed upon in your internship contract. If you have a concern about your hours, contact your faculty supervisor immediately.

Download the timesheet form.

Reflecting On Your Internship

Reflection is a crucial part of community based learning, which allows interns to look back on, think critically about, and learn from their experience. Reflection may include acknowledging and/or sharing of reactions, feelings, observations, and ideas about anything regarding the activity. Reflection can happen through writing, speaking, listening, reading, drawing, acting, and any other way you can imagine.

Use this guide to support your reflective process and to further support learning from your internship experience.

Internship Resources
Student Internship Manual

In this guide to the internship process at Northern Vermont University-Johnson, you will discover internship resources, the internship process, and the roles and responsibilities of students, faculty, and site supervisors.

Learn how to make the most of your internship including positive traits of interns and ideas on how to reflect on the experience.

Hard copies of the Internship Guide can be found in the Career & Internship Center in Dewey Hall.

Download the NVU-Johnson Student Internship Guide

Internship Guide for Employers

This guide supports organizations and businesses that are considering hosting an intern. It defines:

•    What is an Internship
•    Criteria for Internship Sites
•    Overview of the Internship Process at NVU-Johnson including the Internship Contract
•    Evaluation
•    Roles and Responsibilities of Students, Faculty and Site Supervisors
•    Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
•    The NVU-Johnson Internship Contract

Hard copies of this guide are located in the Career and Internship Center in Dewey Hall.

Download the Employer Guide.

Internship Mini Grant

Northern Vermont University-Johnson received a generous donation from the Union Bank to support students engaged in internships. The fund, overseen by NVU’s Career & Internship Center, offers student interns mini-grants up to $250 in order to help students overcome potential barriers to successful internship participation.

Students can apply for funding to support:

  • Stipends (for unpaid internships)
  • Expenses for internship-related conferences and workshops
  • Related skills trainings
  • Reimbursement for mandatory background checks
  • Gas/transportation to internship site
  • Meetings between internship sites, community partners, and the university (to assess current practices and enhance internship program)

For questions about this mini-grant, please contact Ellen Hill, Internship Coordinator at Ellen.Hill@NorthernVermont.edu or 802.635.1439.

Bi-Weekly Report

This form should be completed by the student intern every two weeks and discussed with the site supervisor. Return this completed form to your faculty supervisor.

Download the form here.