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Why bother? Why not think of school now and your career
later? You've got enough to worry about as it is! Wouldn't it be
cheaper to finish school, then become a fulltime professional?
What does an internship do for you anyway?
Great advantages…
Get a head start into your field…
Avoid underemployment!
Underemployment is a concern for many graduates, that
is, being employed but in a job that does not make use of the students'
potential. For this reason, many career-oriented, ambitious students
choose to do an internship. The internship
gives students a competitive edge! Students gain
the experience needed to break into a field. Many employers will
hire only experienced people. Participating in an internship is
one way around this obstacle.
Explore a career
Are you trying to figure out what you want to do with
your life? How can you know for sure? You can take a class and see
if you like a type of career. You can read about careers or hear
somebody talking about what they do. These are all great things
to do. But the experience of actually doing a job and seeing
what it is like from the inside is incomparable.
Pay attention to how the job feels. Is the work
environment interesting, or exciting? Do you like the type of people
working in this setting? Do you like the work tasks you will be
doing once you are a professional? Your internship should provide
you with some clues as to whether this might be a satisfying and
fulfilling field for you.
Improve how well you do as a college student
That's right! You are likely to improve your
college grades and level of achievement. This is how it works: A
career goal is like "chocolate sundae". People tend to
work harder when they know there will be a reward. In the same way,
a career goal is like a chocolate sundae in that it motivates some
people to perform better and to stay in school to achieve a desired
goal.
Another way that the internship may improve your
class performance is that classroom curriculum may become more meaningful.
Material that you are learning in class may relate to your internship
assignments. This may help you see the value of your class lessons.
What else can an internship do for you?
Provide references. When you are an intern
at a company, people get to know you and your work. They may take
a personal interest in you and your career. When it comes time to
look for a job, these individuals can act as references for you.
They know the quality of your work, your work habits, and your interpersonal
style.
Make contacts for your future. The people
you meet at your internship are potential networking contacts. These
people can introduce you to others in your field who may have opportunities
that are just right for you.
Lead to a higher salary. When you take
the time to complete an internship, you gain valuable experience
This experience can justify asking a future employer
for a higher rate of pay than if you were applying for the job with
no experience. You can explain to your future employer that you have
gained specific skills on the internship and probably will not require
as much training as somebody who has not completed an internship.
May turn into a job. Some employers use
the internship as a way to evaluate potential new employees. You
can never assume that an internship will turn into a job, even if
you are a wonderful intern, but it is a possibility.
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