Internship Preparation
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The quality of your internship experience is greatly influenced by the preparation you undertake beforehand. This page provides useful information and resources for students who are considering applying for an internship. Review the materials below before applying and prepare yourself to make the most of your internship experience.
Contents
Setting Internship Goals and Objectives
Before searching for an internship, take some time to reflect on your interests and future career goals. Clarifying your objectives and expectations will help you identify internship opportunities that best match your interests and allow you to gain more meaningful learning experiences.
Self-Assessment Questions Before Starting Your Internship Search
- What is my purpose for doing an internship? Do I have a specific goal in mind?
- What field(s) would I be interested in?
- Where do I see myself working after graduation (Japan, home country, 3rd country)?
- How much time do I have to commit to an internship?
- Am I looking for a paid internship or open to unpaid internship?
- Am I interested in receiving credits from the internship? Have I checked to make sure I’m eligible for the internship course I am interested in?
Important Factors to Consider When Researching Companies and Organizations
Based on the interests and goals identified through your self-assessment, consider the following factors when evaluating potential internship opportunities.
| Item | Checkpoints |
|---|---|
| Location | For distant locations, how will I handle fees for transport, accommodation, visa, etc.? |
| Industry/Internship Content | Do these match my goals for the internship and/or my career? |
| Language | Do I meet the requirements for the internship? |
| Salary/Benefit | What does the company provide (or not provide)? |
| Time Commitment | Based on the dates and work hours, will I be able to fit the internship into my schedule? |
| Credits | Is this internship actually eligible for the course I am interested in? |
Career Check Sheet
The Career Check Sheet is a tool designed to help you reflect on your personal growth and development before and after your internship experience. Before participating in an internship, use the sheet to assess your strengths, skills, and areas for improvement, and to organize the goals you hope to achieve through the experience. After completing the internship, you can reflect on your accomplishments and development, helping you apply what you learned to your future career planning and job search. The Business Manner Seminar videos also include guidance on setting internship goals. We encourage you to review them together with the Career Check Sheet.
Career Check Sheet (Excel)
Internship Guidance
The guidance session covers the purpose and benefits of internships, how to search for internships, and course registration procedures. Students who are interested in internships or considering applying for one are encouraged to attend.
| Japanese Guidance Session | English Guidance Session |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 (Tuesday), 6th Period @ J102 | October 29, 2026 (Thursday), 6th Period @ J102 |
| Japanese Session Recording | English Session Recording |
* Recording Available After the Session
Preparing Application Documents
Application documents create a first impression on companies and organizations and play a crucial role in communicating your experiences, strengths, and motivation for participating in an internship. Refer to the Application Document Review Checklist below and take sufficient time to refine your documents to ensure they are clear, professional, and well prepared.
Application Document Review Checklist
| Review Item | Checkpoints |
|---|---|
| Proofreading | Are there any spelling, typographical, or formatting errors? Are all proper nouns, including company, organization, and school names, written correctly? |
| Academic Background | Are enrollment and graduation dates accurate and listed in chronological order? Have I included both my university and college/school information? |
| Work and Activity History | Are my part-time work experiences, internships, and extracurricular activities listed accurately and in chronological order? When describing experiences, is it clear whether they were part-time jobs or internships (e.g., "ABC Corporation (Part-time Job)" or "XYZ Hotel (Internship)")? |
| Photo | Is my photo appropriate for a professional application in terms of appearance, attire, and background? |
| Motivation Statement | Is my statement tailored to the company, organization, or position? Does it clearly explain my motivation and connect my experiences and skills to the opportunity? |
| Missing Information | Have I completed all required sections? Have I adequately highlighted my strengths and experiences? |
| Layout and Readability | Is all text displayed correctly? Has any content been cut off? Is the document easy to read and professionally formatted? |
| Final Review | Have I conducted a final review before submission? Have I asked someone else to review the document as an additional check? |
Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)
The official resume template can be downloaded from the APU Employment Support Web System (Caritas UC).
One of the first sections reviewed by companies and organizations is the 志望動機（しぼうどうき）. This section should clearly explain:
- Why I am interested in the industry, company, or organization
- What I hope to learn and achieve through the internship, and what strengths I would like to demonstrate
- How I intend to apply the experience to my studies and future career
A common mistake is to write something very general that can be used for multiple companies/organizations. But unfortunately, that only weakens your application because the vagueness displays your lack of research on the company.
English Resume/CV
A document showing your experiences to potential employers, ideally kept to a maximum of 1 page (for undergraduate students with no full-time work experience; for students with 5+ years of work experience, this can extend to 2 pages).
Generally speaking, there is no set format for an English resume/CV, but common sections include:
- Heading: Name, general location (e.g. Oita, Japan), contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
- Professional Summary or Objective: A brief paragraph (3-4 sentences) outlining the most relevant skills/experiences that you have with regard to the company/job position and how you would like to use those skills to contribute to the company if hired
- Education: usually limit to bachelor's degree and/or higher
- Experience: out of the experiences you have (full-time or part-time work, internships, extracurricular activities, etc.), the most relevant to the company/job position you are applying for. Include company/organization you belonged to, name of position, dates of experience, and bullet points outlining your responsibilities and achievements
- Skills: soft skills (communication, time management, etc.), hard/technical skills (computer software, research skills, etc.), and language skills that you possess that would be relevant to the company
Business Manner
Applying for and participating in internships requires basic professional skills and business manners, including email communication, interview etiquette, and workplace communication. Developing these skills in advance will help you participate in internships with confidence. If you are considering an internship, we encourage you to watch the following Business Manner Seminar videos.
| Business Manner Seminar (Japanese) | Business Manner Training (English) |
|---|---|
| J: Watch Recording | E: Watch Recording |
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