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EnglishHow University of Arizona Students Can Prepare for an Internship Using the Big 7 Checklist
Updated
The Center for Career Readiness at the University of Arizona encourages all Wildcats to build an internship plan and pursue at least one paid internship or research experience during their time at the university. The Big 7 is the center's internship readiness checklist, designed to be started on your first day as a Wildcat. Completing all seven steps is meant to leave you with an online profile, skill-building experiences, a strong resume, a polished self-introduction, and confidence in your interviewing skills and search strategy — the elements the center describes as everything possible to become a strong candidate.
What the Big 7 Is For
The checklist exists because a paid internship is, in the center's words, one of the best ways to build career-readiness skills and connect with employers while still in college. Rather than waiting until you are close to applying, the Big 7 is structured so you can take small steps early and be ready when the right opportunity appears. You can use it to prepare for an internship now or one you plan to pursue later.
What the Seven Steps Cover
The center summarizes the outcome of the checklist by the areas it touches. Completing all seven steps means you will have:
- An online profile
- Skill-building experiences
- A strong resume
- A polished self-introduction
- Confidence in your interviewing skills
- Confidence in your search strategy
The center does not list the individual seven steps on the page itself; the specific steps are accessed through the "Get Started with the Big 7" entry point on the site.
How to Start
- Go to the Center for Career Readiness website and find the "Get Started with the Big 7" link in the internship section.
- Work through the seven steps at your own pace, starting as early as your first semester.
- Use the checklist to track which readiness areas you have covered and which still need attention.
Where to Get Help Along the Way
If you want guidance while working through the checklist, the center offers several entry points:
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| LifeLab | Drop-in conversations with a student peer, Monday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m., in person or on Zoom; no appointment necessary |
| 1:1 Coaching | Career advising appointments, in person or on Zoom |
| Internships | Guidance on preparing for a future internship or research experience |
| Handshake | Free for Wildcats; connects you with jobs, internships, and career support |
LifeLab is described as a welcoming space where you can talk through questions, set a goal, and leave with one clear next step — whether that is sending an email, signing up for an event, or updating your resume. You can return as many times as you like.
A Note on the Payoff
The center frames the goal plainly: all Wildcats are encouraged to pursue at least one paid internship or research experience. One student quoted on the site put the value this way: "My internship helped me adapt to the professional world, something classes don't always prepare you for." The Big 7 is the center's structured way of getting you to that point.