Internships
Gain Experience in a field of your choice
An Internship is one of the best ways to develop specific skills and knowledge, as well as make contacts and build confidence. It also provides assistance with getting yourself out there to be noticed by employers. More and more, employers are seeking out the skills and abilities of prospective employees by evaluating their previous experiences. If you pursue career-related opportunities prior to graduation, you may have a hand over other candidates in a competitive job market.
Be Prepared
It makes good sense to have a clear idea of what’s expected from you and what you expect from the employer before you start a internship. Discuss the details and the logistics with the internship sponsor before you start, so the internship will be a positive experience for both you and the company.
Before deciding on an internship, research of all of your options. Find out what the specifics are of the job that your potentially looking for. Research on the web what the potential salaries offer, what skills you might need to freshen up on, and what experiences you might already need to possess.
Internships may be paid or unpaid, for credit or not-for-credit, and are available in a wide variety of fields from both the private and non profit sectors of the job market. Internships are available locally, nationally, and internationally.
For students, internships also supplement academic classes and may earn credits that can be used for college. However, the internship will need to be approved for credit by your college and you may need a faculty sponsor. For recent graduates and individuals considering a career change, an internship is a way to try out a new job to see what interests you and what doesn’t without making a permanent commitment.
Benefits of an Internship
- There are many things that an internship can do for you that a traditional lecture or job simply cannot. The skills that you will gain at your internship will range from communication to organization to industry specific skills. Having an internship also gives you the experience of working in an office, and being responsible for your actions.
- Most programs look for ways to incorporate interns into everyday work through shadowing and team building. Many employers will make job offers based on your performance as an intern. They want to see that you possess skills that will be valuable to the company. It shows employers what kind of person you are, what your favorable skills are, and it also shows a level of commitment from you.
- Another important reason to get an internship is to help you decide what you do and don’t want to do. Working in a less than perfect atmosphere can have its benefits by helping you prioritize the things that will make you happy in the future. Without the experience of figuring it out first hand in a real world experience, coming to those conclusions can be much more difficult.
- Getting an internship is one of the best ways to utilize what skills you have, and to build upon those skills into a professional manner. It will give you a sense of responsibility and involvement stepping into the professional world.
An internship gives you the opportunity to:
- Gain valuable work experience before you graduate;
- Develop new skills as well as skills already possessed;
- Apply knowledge gained from coursework to on-the-job situations;
- Meet and work with professionals,
- Establishing contacts for possible letters of recommendation
- Networking with professionals
- Experience new work environments;
- Earn money for tuition and expenses.