Below are some of our most frequently asked questions about the Emerson Los Angeles internship experience. If you need further assistance, please contact our internship staff at ela_interns [at] emerson.edu (ELA_interns[at]emerson[dot]edu) and we would be happy to assist. You an also review answers to questions about residence life.
Pre-Departure
Once I’m accepted into the ELA Internship program, what happens next?
ELA acceptances are sent via email by the Office of Education Abroad & Domestic Programs and include information on preparing for your internship search. Once students have submitted their program deposit, the Internships Placement Team will send a more detailed email with further resources and information on signing up for a mandatory internship advising session.
Does ELA offer information sessions for accepted ELA students? If so, when and where are they held?
Yes! ELA will provide pre-departure information via an online Canvas course AND in-person information sessions. First, accepted ELA students who have submitted their deposit will be enrolled in a mandatory online “Pre-Departure Course” in Canvas.
In addition to this course, ELA staff will host in-person information sessions in Boston the semester prior to students’ arrival in Los Angeles. Information sessions for the Fall and Summer terms are held in mid-March and information sessions for the Spring term are held in mid-October. Attendance is strongly encouraged for all participants to ask questions about the program and their internship search. Specific program information, dates, and deadlines will also be shared during these sessions.
Internship Course
What is the ELA internship course?
ELA students receive academic credit for their internships through the internship course. The course acts as a workshop for students’ internship experiences and provides a set of tools to analyze their contribution to your personal, professional, and academic goals. Unlike other ELA courses, it meets every other week for 75 minutes and is required for all students.
Do I need to register for the internship course?
Yes. Students must register for the course #499 in their major (e.g. VM499 for VMA students, MK499 for Marketing Communication students). Because the internship course is a requirement of the program, students should register for it as soon as they are able and NOT wait until they have an internship.
Internship Search
What are Emerson’s general requirements for internships?
You can read through a complete list of Emerson College's internship requirements and responsibilities.
When can I begin the process of searching for an internship?
Internship hiring is cyclical, and typically happens in the 3-4 months leading up to your semester in LA. The ELA Internship Placement Team will offer advising sessions and workshops at the start of your semester’s hiring season to ensure you are prepared. We highly recommend that you start early in the hiring season, and participate in advising sessions as soon as they are available.
Internship hiring seasons:
- Fall: May-September
- Spring: September-January
- Summer: November-June
How do I find an internship?
There are many ways and places to find an internship. We recommend browsing the Internships & Transitional Services page for detailed information on preparing for and conducting your internship search, along with tips for interviewing and evaluating offers.
Students are responsible for securing their own internship, but ELA’s Internship Placement Team supports them every step of the way through individual and group advising sessions. Once students are accepted and deposited, the Internship Placement Team will be in touch with information to begin their search and sign up for advising sessions.
What criteria should I use in my selection process?
Your search should reflect your future career plans, your production and work experience, and/or your academic major. Keep in mind that, even at a small company, you may not be able to do everything and should distinguish between various departments. Be selective and thoughtful in your search, whether it be within a specific area of interest, varied companies and roles, and so on.
Is there a limit on how many sites I may apply to through the Emerson Los Angeles internship database?
There is no limit to the number of sites you may apply to! We recommend applying to as many sites as you are genuinely interested in. Internships in Los Angeles are extremely competitive and it may take several applications before you get your first offer.
How will I know if my choices are good ones?
There is no wrong choice! Don’t get caught up in finding a “dream” internship. As long as you are applying to companies whose work you are genuinely interested in, and whose policies and practices reflect our guidelines, trust yourself and your search.
Should I focus on the big-name companies? Is it more beneficial to focus on major or big-name companies?
Choosing a small company vs. a large company is a matter of personal and professional preference. Employers tend to be more concerned with WHAT you’ve done, rather than WHERE you’ve done it. Smaller companies often offer more opportunities and experiences for an intern, whereas a larger company may place you in a specific department and limit your exposure to other areas of interest. However, for a more fruitful search, you should vary the type of companies you apply to.
Can I expect to intern in production on a film set?
There are many opportunities for on-set internships on commercial, music video, and live studio shoots. The Internship Placement Team can help you identify those opportunities during advising meetings.
Opportunities on feature film sets are very rare, as film production schedules usually do not correspond to academic semesters and many films are shot on location, not in LA. Additionally, interns are not considered employees and therefore are not bonded, insured, or members of a union, all of which can be required to work on a feature film set.
Applying to Internship Opportunities
How do I apply for an internship?
Each internship opportunity in Handshake or on other sites provide the appropriate contact information and details regarding how best to apply for the internship. Many postings in Handshake will allow you to upload your resume & cover letter directly, or they may ask you to email your cover letter and resume to the intern supervisor. If you have an email contact, you can follow up with an email in 7-10 days to make sure the contact person received your application. It is not recommended to contact internship sites by phone.
How soon should I send my cover letter/resume to internship sites?
You are encouraged to apply as soon as internship opportunities become available. It is impossible to know when they will start interviewing; they may contact you quickly or they may wait a few weeks. Note that any application deadline or expiration date is likely arbitrary and may not align with the company’s hiring timeline.
I need help with my cover letter and resume. What do I do?
If you are working on your resume and cover letter ahead of your ELA application: Visit the Career Development Center to discuss your preparation for ELA and receive the ELA Info Packet. You can also visit their Resume and CV page.
For accepted ELA students: Contact your assigned ELA internship advisor or email ela_interns [at] emerson.edu (ELA_interns[at]emerson[dot]edu). Our Internship Placement Team is here to support you!
What do I do when an internship site responds to my application?
Great! The company is interested and would like to set up an interview! Respond within 24 hours, and let your internship advisor know so they can help you navigate this process.
Interviews may take place right away, or after the semester has begun. Interviews may take place via Zoom or phone, or in-person if it’s after your arrival in LA. Please DO NOT schedule any interviews during mandatory orientations, which are held the first week you arrive in LA.
What do I do when I receive an internship offer?
Congratulations! Respond to thank them within 24 hours, and reach out to your internship advisor so they can help you decide if this is the best offer for you. Once you accept an offer you are expected to honor that commitment (just as we expect the internship site to honor its commitment to students). NEVER accept an internship without first interviewing and understanding what the experience will be.
What do I do if no one responds to my cover letter/resume?
Persevere and stay focused. The internship hunt can be a long process; LA internships are competitive, but there are more than enough for all students. Stay in touch with your internship advisor; they will continue to send you leads and resources until you have secured an internship.
Can I set up my own internship at a site not currently listed in Handshake?
Yes, if ELA’s internship staff confirm that the opportunity meets ELA’s academic requirements for internships.
Once you have identified an opportunity, contact your internship advisor to let them know and introduce them to your contact at the site. We will follow up with them directly to discuss our guidelines and ensure we can support this opportunity.
Do I have any other paperwork to complete once I secure the internship?
Yes: You must complete the Learning Proposal, which is an agreement between you, the internship supervisor, and Emerson Los Angeles. The Learning Proposal is typically due two and a half weeks after arrival. Your Learning Proposal must be completed and signed by both you and your internship supervisor, by the deadline.
Internship Requirements
How many hours per week can I work at my internship, and for how long during the semester?
In Fall and Spring terms: Student interns enroll in the internship course for 4 or 8 credits, depending on how many hours they will intern per week. Students are required to intern 16–23 hours per week (192–276 hours per semester) for 4 credits, or 24–32 hours per week (288–384 hours per semester) for 8 credits. Hour totals are based on interning 12 weeks out of the 14-week ELA semester. Please note that these are different from credit hours requirements on the Boston campus.
In the Summer term: Refer to the ELA Summer Program page.
Student interns coordinate with their internship site supervisors to decide when those hours will be performed so they do not conflict with class commitments. Student interns must be on site for the hours/days as agreed upon and documented in the Learning Proposal, unless a virtual/remote internship has been approved. We do not recommend working longer than the required hours, as ELA students are very busy between their internships, classes, and assignments.
If you are placed in a virtual/remote internship, students are expected to be “at work” during the agreed upon hours, and should be in touch with their supervisor if sick or personal time off is needed — like they would with any other job. Students should not agree to any remote work schedule that conflicts with their classes.
Can I expect to be paid at my internship?
There are some paid internships available and you are encouraged to apply to any that align with ELA’s academic requirements. However, the vast majority of internships are unpaid and we do not recommend holding out for a paid internship. Some unpaid internships may provide a free lunch, a small stipend, and/or gas money for an occasional errand.
The company where I want to intern has asked for a letter verifying that I’m enrolled for academic credit. What do I do?
Students who need an Academic Verification Letter for their internship can complete the ELA Academic Verification Letter Request Form. Once received, your internship advisor will prepare your letter and send it back to you.
Is it possible that my internship will offer me a job at the end?
It is possible, and it happens on occasion, but it is most often a circumstance of timing and luck; i.e., an assistant at your company is leaving for another job, and they need someone to fill the position quickly. If you have been performing well as an intern, you could potentially fill that position.
We do not recommend factoring in a potential job offer as you are considering internship offers. Assistant turnover in Hollywood is frequent, but there’s no way to know if or when a position will become available. Don’t feel bad at the end of the semester if there’s no job waiting for you at your company – that’s not a reflection on your performance. But, if you perform well, they are likely to keep you in mind the next time they have an opening.
