What is an Internship?
- The opportunity to add practical, relevant experience to your field of study.
- A temporary, hands-on work experience in an organization or company for which students can earn academic credit.
Internships are meaningful experiences designed to provide students with insights about potential careers. Experiential opportunities in the form of internships continue to expand as more and more employers seek graduates with pertinent skills and experiences on their resumes. Internships may be undertaken during an academic semester or summer break and students may be able to receive academic credit for their efforts. Additionally, internships may be set-up as full or part-time endeavors to fit individual student needs. While some internships are available to only upper-class students, first and second year students should not be dissuaded from seeking intern positions. Some students obtain paid internships. However, regardless of financial arrangement, the most important aspect is the learning objectives you set and the pertinent work experience! The Director of Internships and a variety of resources are available in the Career Development Center to help students research internships.
Why engage in an internship?
What is it about an internship that is so valuable? Why should you consider one? What advantage will you have over students who do not participate in an internship experience?
- To apply, evaluate, test and integrate academic knowledge and theoretical concepts in a work setting.
- To expand your awareness of the world outside the campus by exposure to different disciplines.
CHECK
OUT YOUR INTERESTS
An internship is a good way to check out your interest in a possible
career field. Not only will you have the opportunity to build your
knowledge base and develop your skills , but you will have the opportunity
to be exposed to the work of others within the organization and
find out about additional job possibilities.
PERSONAL
GROWTH
Internships help you clarify your interests, strengths, and areas
you need to improve upon. The value of an internship often extends
beyond career exploration; a good experience can have a significant
impact on your personal growth by developing your intellectual,
problem solving, and leadership qualities. It can also enhance your
awareness and appreciation of ethical dilemmas, the importance of
diversity, civic and social responsibility.
GET
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
More and more employers are seeking graduates who have relevant
experience and are familiar with the work environment. After a student
completes an internship, there is greater potential for the employer
to hire him or her for a full-time position.
FUTURE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The healthy economy and high demand for skilled employees have convinced
employers of the prudence of sponsoring internship programs to identify,
test, groom, and recruit candidates. The investment is apparently
well worth it: More than four-fifths (82.5 percent) of companies
say they offer internship programs, and more than 98 percent of
those use them to recruit for their permanent work forces. (The
National Association of Colleges and Employers, 1999).
VALUABLE
CONTACTS AND REFERENCES
Networking is an essential part of the job search process and who
better to ask for a reference or contact than someone who knows
your work style and habits. Getting to know people working in the
career field you're interested in is easier when you're working
side-by-side with them. In today's job market, who you know can
be just as crucial as what you know and even more critical to specific
hard to break into industries.
BETTER
STARTING SALARY
Graduates who participate in an internship can earn more than students
who did not intern.
Internships are available full-time or part-time, summer, spring, or fall. The hours and locations of the internship vary. In most cases, the student and site supervisor determine the hours of work.