The Internship Playbook: How to Stand Out, Gain Experience, & Get Ahead with Work-Based Learning
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 161
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Designed for students of all majors and backgrounds, The Internship Playbook is a comprehensive and empowering guide to navigating every stage of the internship experience, from preparation and professionalism to reflection and career launch. Whether required for a course or pursued independently, this book equips students with the tools they need to succeed not just during an internship, but long after it ends.
Written in an accessible, down-to-earth voice and grounded in real-world application, this text walks students through:
- Exploring career paths and defining personal goals
- Preparing for the internship with confidence and clarity
- Developing professionalism, communication skills, and resilience
- Navigating challenges, feedback, and office dynamics
- Reflecting on personal growth and skill development
- Turning experience into impact—on resumes, in interviews, and beyond
Perfect for use in internship, career readiness, or professional development courses, The Internship Playbook balances structure with flexibility, making it equally valuable as a classroom text or self-guided resource. Complete with reflection prompts, worksheets, and actionable takeaways, this book helps students not just fulfill an internship requirement, but leverage it for long-term success.
Foreword: The Power of Experience
Introduction: Dear Future Professional: Welcome to The Internship Playbook
PART 1 Setting Yourself Up for Success
CHAPTER 1 Work-Based Learning 101: Your Pathway to Real-World Experience
CHAPTER 2 The Internship Advantage: Why This Experience Matters
CHAPTER 3 Ready, Set, Intern: Preparing for a Transformative Experience
PART 2 Making the Most of the Opportunity
CHAPTER 4 Professionalism in Action: More Than Just Looking the Part
CHAPTER 5 Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Managing Well-Being, Stress, and Boundaries
CHAPTER 6 Standing Out and Adding Value: How to Shine in Your Internship
CHAPTER 7 Building Your Network: Mentors, Supervisors, and Meaningful Connections
CHAPTER 8 Navigating the Workplace: People, Politics, and Professional Growth
PART 3 Leveraging the Experience
CHAPTER 9 From Internship to Opportunity: Showcasing Your Success and Making It Matter
CHAPTER 10 Designing Your Future: Mapping Out the Next Steps
Ashleigh Droz, MA is the Director of Internships & Cooperative Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she leads institutional efforts to expand access to meaningful work-based learning. With 17 years of experience in higher education and career development, she has taught over 100 university-level classes in career readiness, student success, and public speaking. A sought-after speaker and national presenter, Ashleigh’s expertise spans career counseling, work-based learning, and inclusive student development. She is also the founder of a private career coaching practice and the creator of What She’s Worth, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in the workplace through a podcast, online shop, digital advocacy campaigns, and more. Ashleigh’s work is grounded in the belief that careers should be built—not just found—and that access to meaningful, purpose-driven work should be available to all. The Internship Playbook is her first book and will be released by Kendall Hunt Publishing in August 2025.
Designed for students of all majors and backgrounds, The Internship Playbook is a comprehensive and empowering guide to navigating every stage of the internship experience, from preparation and professionalism to reflection and career launch. Whether required for a course or pursued independently, this book equips students with the tools they need to succeed not just during an internship, but long after it ends.
Written in an accessible, down-to-earth voice and grounded in real-world application, this text walks students through:
- Exploring career paths and defining personal goals
- Preparing for the internship with confidence and clarity
- Developing professionalism, communication skills, and resilience
- Navigating challenges, feedback, and office dynamics
- Reflecting on personal growth and skill development
- Turning experience into impact—on resumes, in interviews, and beyond
Perfect for use in internship, career readiness, or professional development courses, The Internship Playbook balances structure with flexibility, making it equally valuable as a classroom text or self-guided resource. Complete with reflection prompts, worksheets, and actionable takeaways, this book helps students not just fulfill an internship requirement, but leverage it for long-term success.
Foreword: The Power of Experience
Introduction: Dear Future Professional: Welcome to The Internship Playbook
PART 1 Setting Yourself Up for Success
CHAPTER 1 Work-Based Learning 101: Your Pathway to Real-World Experience
CHAPTER 2 The Internship Advantage: Why This Experience Matters
CHAPTER 3 Ready, Set, Intern: Preparing for a Transformative Experience
PART 2 Making the Most of the Opportunity
CHAPTER 4 Professionalism in Action: More Than Just Looking the Part
CHAPTER 5 Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Managing Well-Being, Stress, and Boundaries
CHAPTER 6 Standing Out and Adding Value: How to Shine in Your Internship
CHAPTER 7 Building Your Network: Mentors, Supervisors, and Meaningful Connections
CHAPTER 8 Navigating the Workplace: People, Politics, and Professional Growth
PART 3 Leveraging the Experience
CHAPTER 9 From Internship to Opportunity: Showcasing Your Success and Making It Matter
CHAPTER 10 Designing Your Future: Mapping Out the Next Steps
Ashleigh Droz, MA is the Director of Internships & Cooperative Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she leads institutional efforts to expand access to meaningful work-based learning. With 17 years of experience in higher education and career development, she has taught over 100 university-level classes in career readiness, student success, and public speaking. A sought-after speaker and national presenter, Ashleigh’s expertise spans career counseling, work-based learning, and inclusive student development. She is also the founder of a private career coaching practice and the creator of What She’s Worth, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in the workplace through a podcast, online shop, digital advocacy campaigns, and more. Ashleigh’s work is grounded in the belief that careers should be built—not just found—and that access to meaningful, purpose-driven work should be available to all. The Internship Playbook is her first book and will be released by Kendall Hunt Publishing in August 2025.