Jefferson Extern Program
“(My externship) allowed me to gain exposure to an area of law that I did not know much about. It was an awesome experience that I would recommend to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession. I didn't realize how much government I would be involved with as opposed to the type of law I had previous experience with.”
- What is an externship?
- Why should I extern?
- What will I do as an extern?
- How do I extern at U.Va.?
- Will UCS place me in an externship?
Are you an employer? Find information about posting your externship for U.Va. students…
What IS an externship?
An externship is a short term job shadowing experience (usually one week). Each extern experience is different depending on your interests, the career field, and the particular sponsor with whom you extern. All externships are unpaid and externs do not earn academic credit.
Why should I extern?
An externship gives you the opportunity to:
- experience a typical week on the job
- investigate a career field of your choice
- clarify your career goals and interests
- “test”a career without the risk of longer-term commitment.
- get your foot in the door for competitive internships or jobs
- add value to your resume
What will I do as an extern?
Extern experiences vary. Some students spend the whole week in one department; while others spend a day in a different department to get a broad overview. Some examples of what you might do as an extern include:
- observe, network, and work with professionals
- take a company tour
- conduct informational interviews
- sit in on staff meetings
- review company literature
- help with clerical tasks
- assist with actual office projects (research, report writing, etc.)
How do I extern at U.Va.?
Will UCS place me in an externship?
UCS no longer places students directly with externship sponsors. However, Jefferson Externs have access to many UCS resources, including an extern database which lists past extern sponsors. Also, Jefferson Externs will gain valuable job search, resume writing, networking, and interviewing experience.
