Hands-on, practical experiences and learning often provide the insight needed to determine if a major and/or a career path is the one to consider. Through Experiential Learning (EL) opportunities, such as internships, co-ops, research, clinicals, practicums, student teaching, campus leadership, and volunteerism/service, you will understand the industry and potentially develop new or transferable skills and enhance your career competencies. Sometimes, an opportunity will be extended or converted to a full-time option after graduation.
Below are seven categories of resources and options through the UConn Career Center, the UConn system, and even beyond our campuses to guide and help you make good career-related decisions.
Internships
You gain experience, academic credit, and/or compensation by completing an internship. Internships can be between 5-20 hours per week during the semester and up to 40 hours per week during the summer. Internships typically extend a set period such as a semester, summer, or year but can be extended if the role evolves.
Here are some internships at LGBTQ+ friendly employers on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index:
- Human Rights Campaign
- Family Equality Public Policy Internship
- Data Science Intern at Indeed (Summer 2022)
Co-Ops (Cooperative Educational Experience)
UConn co-ops are full-time, paid positions that last approximately 4-6 months, during which students do not typically take classes. Students participating in a co-op experience maintain their full-time UConn student status. For more information on steps to arrange a co-op with the Career Center, visit this webpage.
Here are some co-ops at LGBTQ+ friendly employers on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index:
Research & Fellowships
Students can participate in research and fellowship opportunities at academic institutions, research centers and institutes, at non-profits/NGOs, in industry, and within government at all levels. These learning experiences build transferable skills and allow you to explore and prepare for a career in the field of research and/or graduate school.
- Utilize the resources here to learn more
- Have a research interest? Use Lincus to find UConn faculty and departments conducting the research you are passionate about
Community Outreach & Volunteering
Learn how you can engage with local and non-local communities to make a long-lasting impact. Resources include UConn-affiliated programs, opportunities abroad, and information about service-based careers. An excellent opportunity to participate in community outreach is volunteering as a Crisis Support Counselor for the Trevor Project.
Trevor Project Crisis Support Counselor
Time Commitment: 40 Hour Training over 10 weeks then commit to a weekly 3-hour shift for 1 year
Benefits:
- Supportive community network
- Gain important soft skills such as communication and critical thinking
- World-class crisis intervention training
Click here to learn more and apply
- Additional resources to see how you can impact your local and non-local community are listed here.
Leadership & Campus Involvement
UConn has hundreds of clubs, as well as robust student employment offerings. In addition, students can participate in non-academic certificates that will supplement classroom learning.
Shadowing & Industry-Specific Resources
If you’re interested in shadowing a professional in your industry, the first step is to think about what position/field you’d like to be in within the next 10-15 years. The purpose of this is to identify who you may wish to speak to gain real-world advice from someone who is currently where you’d like to be in the future. The second step is to conduct some research to find those people. There are two great resources for this!
Sign up with your UConn email, and you will receive tailored suggestions for UConn alumni and professionals based on your career interests. First, browse professional profiles to identify which career path is of interest. Then, you can schedule an appointment directly through HMN, where you can discuss a shadowing opportunity.
One of the hidden gems of LinkedIn is the LinkedIn Alumni Search tool. In the search bar, type “University of Connecticut”, then click on Alumni, and you will see over 160,000 current UConn students and alumni. Utilize the search feature on this page by searching a specific job title, keyword, company, or skill.
International Experiences
Enhance an international experience by incorporating volunteerism, an internship, or perhaps a fellowship. Unfortunately, there are still many countries that have limited human rights for LGBTQ+ folks. As a result, it may be essential to consider the laws and social climate of the country you wish to visit. This article, Top 10 LGBT+ friendly countries for expats, provides excellent information on the top 10 LGBT+ friendly countries.
Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash
