Hot Query of the Week: “Tell Me All About Internships” - The Top Ten FAQs

Plus a topical recipe: Groundnut Stew (see below)

A student’s internship is the centerpiece of Pepperdine’s two year master’s program in public policy. Every student – without exception – has to do one, and most people choose to take advantage of the four-month break between the first and second year to do an extended internship during the summer. I think of it as a gift the school forces the students to give themselves since there is rarely a time in life that you can try on something completely new. For almost every student, their internship is a wondrous time of transformation. They go places they never imagined being able to visit, let alone work in, countries like Uganda and Rwanda, India and Bangladesh, Bolivia and Azerbaijan. Last summer, students worked in all of these nations and more. Another small group went to Washington DC. Check out the internship blogs at: http://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/admission/student-blogs/.

When those students returned this week, every single one was charged up, passionate about pursuing their careers in public policy. They’ll be recounting their experiences at the Mixer Wednesday night, September 2nd, so get ready for a fun evening.

Every year, there are a few – very few – who made an unwise choice for themselves and picked an imperfect fit. That’s okay. Truly. In fact, you might think of it as GREAT news! Only with an internship can you take a job, work awhile, and if it doesn’t work out, walk away. No harm; no foul. No hole on your resume. No failure to excuse. The internship disappears.

Here’s more good news about a bad internship. While you were working – wishing you were elsewhere – you learned some crucial truths about yourself: what you like to do and what you don’t. Next time, you’ll make a better choice.

Here, in Career Services, we work hard to help you make smart choices the first time out. We study your resume and your interest sheets, meet with you to really get to know you – how you work and how you like to work with others. We offer personality assessments and suggest career paths that might suit your personality and interaction style preferences. Where appropriate, we pair you with a student or alumni mentor who can help guide you to getting (and keeping) the job you want. And, as soon as we’re confident we know where your interests lie, we’ll shoot you email notices when there are openings that might appeal to you.

Every week or so, we have recruiters and alumni panels on campus showcasing career options. This week, Ed Kulakowski will be here from the State Department and, on Monday, recruiters will be here from the CIA and FBI.

Check out the four hundred internship organizations listed on the school’s database and browse prior year students’ comments about working in two hundred of them.

New postings are added daily to the EPPIC database, so watch for news and announcements. You can even check for jobs posted by Pepperdine’s Seaver College and Graduate School of Education and Psychology. The Business and Law Schools have separate proprietary systems.

So, take a breath – if you’re a new student, you needn’t do anything yet – relax and begin to dream.

Because there are always a few questions everybody asks, here are:

The Top Ten FAQ’s about Internships at Pepperdine SPP:

1) What are the requirements?
Every student in Pepperdine’s two-year Master of Public Policy program is required to do a minimum of 240 hours of professional-level work in policy formulation, assessment or execution – anywhere in the world. At least, anywhere that is not on the State Department’s Travel Watch list. That internship must be for a single employer – or, for certain international projects, on a single project with no more than two organizations and a single supervisor who can evaluate your work.

2) Is this just a summer thing? When should I do it?
You can do the internship at any time. In fact, more than half our students do two, and most students far exceed the 240-hour minimum on their primary internship. That said, we strongly suggest that you take the first semester to focus on your schoolwork. There is a lot of reading and at least some of the material will be very new to you, regardless of background. After that, many students arrange their electives to allow them two full days on the day in an LA-based internship.

3) Can I work for a corporation?
Sure. The only restriction is that the work must be public policy. Virtually every corporation has public policy issues to grapple with – regulatory affairs, taxation, permitting, foundations and community affairs, lobbying and government affairs, public service announcements, trade, international currency exchange, and a whole host of other activities that come under the purview of public policy. If you have any questions as to whether your proposed job is appropriate, simply stop by and ask.

4) I’ve already completed (name the number) public policy internships. Why do I have to do yours?
The purpose of the Pepperdine internship is for you to apply what you’ve learned at a professional level in a field you propose to work. Before you came here, you did not have the knowledge or skills you’re attaining. Isn’t that why you’re here? Remember, the internship is a gift; not a punishment. Enjoy the opportunity to explore new options or to build your abilities in the same organizations you worked before. You’ll find you do things better.

5) Where can I go?
Anywhere in the world that is not on the State Department Watch List. The university wants you to be safe – and does not want to incur any liability that might accrue is you went to a “hot spot”. If you have any question about a target country, here’s the link to the list: http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.

6) Do you give me one? If not, how do I find one?
No – we are not a placement service. That said, we are in frequent contact with hiring authorities at the many organizations that regularly hire our students. We post their notices on EPPIC and I’ll alert you if you appear to be an exceptional fit for the position. Securing the job is always up to you.

In addition, employers visit campus to talk about jobs and internships that might interest you. Attend these sessions, even if you think you’re not interested. You’d be surprised at what these large employers actually do, and how you might fit in.

Alumni and second year students are great resources. Ask for help and introductions, but be discreet. You can overdo it if you’re not judicious.

Finally, dozens of openings for jobs and internships are posted every week on EPPIC, the Career Services portal. Check at least weekly because many employers cut off review after the first hundred applications, regardless of stated deadline. Remember I said, “Carpe Diem” during Orientation.

7) I’m interested in international affairs, what kind of work can I do in Los Angeles?
This is an interesting question for several reasons. First, you’re here and the school is here and L.A. is a huge, complex international area with 12 million people and a $698 billion economy. That’s larger than most countries.

Of course, if you’re truly interested in international relations, make your summer internship an overseas one, but when you come back, keep working. You can volunteer at an LA-based foreign consulate or at one of the State Department’s local offices. Consider interning for the Mayor of Los Angeles. With a hugely diverse constituency and trade, a big part of the economy, Mayor Villaraigosa has his own foreign policy, handled by the Protocol Office. Check out the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Or, take a look at the Department of Commerce International Trade Agency. Print and broadcast media news organizations. Corporations. International non-profits. The World Affairs Council. LA-based think tanks. You can learn a tremendous amount about the world working right here in L.A.

8) Are internships paid? Or, do I have to pay for it?
Until this year, about half our students’ internships were paid, but that number dropped drastically when the economy fell. Still, about a third of the LA-based employers pay modest hourly wages or stipends. Virtually no international internships are paid.

Students pay the university nothing – zip, zero – for the internship. It is a required, zero-unit course that is graded pass/not-pass. The reason we gave it zero units was to keep fees lower in recognition of the fact that internships typically cost the student something, at least in housing and travel. Students who invest in international internships universally report it “was worth it”. This is especially true for students seeking international jobs. That in-country work experience is an essential asset on their resume.

9) Are there internship fellowships?
In recent years, the school has been fortunate to be able to offer a few internship fellowships. These fellowships are competitive with awards based on merit – a combination of GPA, essay, quality of the program proposed and faculty recommendations or references. At this point, there is no way of knowing was next summer’s funding will be. It could be nothing. We will try to make it happen, but don’t count on it.

10) From foreign students: The employer pays for this internship but it’s not legal for me to work in the US. Can I get paid?
Yes. During your two years with us, all foreign students are eligible for payment under a Federal program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). Your internship is a requisite part of your degree, so the US Government has ceded you the right to be paid while you work. The internship and the OPT must be pre-approved. Check with Judy Lee in International Student Services for details and paperwork: judy.lee@pepperdine.edu or (310) 506-4246.

The Recipe: Groundnut Stew
What do you eat when you’re interning in Africa? If you read their blogs, you’d think sub-Saharan Africa was an outpost of the Valley since Mike Belina’s stories were replete with burgers, pizza and Coke. Not so, in my experience. Sure, you can get a Coke and, as Mike pointed out, they’re pretty good made with cane sugar instead of the US recipe with corn syrup. It’s a safe drink, too, as long as your skip the ice.

HOWEVER, very few Rwandans, Ugandans or Kenyans eat cow – all that cattle is a sign of wealth and you wouldn’t cull the herd for supper. What most east Africans eat most often is some form of braised vegetables, almost always with squash and plantains, or bananas. Some like it mild; some like it spicy; but everybody likes it.

Here’s a version I tried out on my book club a month or so ago after we read Dave Eggers’ chilling fictionalized memoir of the Lost Boys of Sudan: “What is the What?”. If you care about Africa and what to understand it better, read the book. It’s a profound “read”.

GROUNDNUT STEW

Serves 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: 40-50 minutes

2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 chicken, cut in pieces
1 cup chicken broth (optional)
1 onion, chopped
4 sliced zucchinis (or 1 cup squash of your choosing)
1 small can crushed tomatoes, drained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Pinch cayenne (or more, to taste)
1 teaspoon ground ginger and/or pinch coriander
3/ 4 cup peanut butter (I prefer creamy)
1 10-ounce package frozen okra

1) In a heavy Dutch oven or casserole, brown chicken in 1 tablespoon oil. Add salt and pepper. Add broth or 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and simmer.
2) In a frying pan, brown onions and squash and any other fresh vegetables in remaining oil. Add onions, spices and peanut butter with a splash of liquid. Stir to mix. Add to the Dutch oven. When it returns to a simmer, season to taste, adding garlic, herbs, raisins or whatever inspires you.
3) When the chicken is cooked through, add the okra and cook until the vegetables are firm but hot.
4) Serve over rice with condiments of your choice: chutney, chopped tropical fruits, nuts, hard boiled eggs.