Internships: what, where, how?

I’m often asked, why do an internship? Why not just apply for a job and get started in my field of study.  There are many reasons to do internships whether paid, unpaid, for credit or not.  

First of all, internships allow you to gain an inside glimpse into a company, industry, or a particular occupation while helping you gain valuable experience that will help you in your upcoming job search process.  Internships may even turn into a job offer or provide you with job leads. Whether you receive a job offer or not, internships always provide the opportunity to build your professional network.  Lastly, internships allow you to do a reality check, is the work really what you thought it would be like?  Do you need to tweak your goals.  Would a slightly different work environment be a better fit for you?  Would you prefer to work in your field of study but in a different environment – maybe a fast-paced corporate setting or a value-based non-profit setting instead?

If I haven't sold you with the above arguments, think about this: according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, new college graduates who participated in internships did far better in the job market than their classmates who had not had that experience.  In 2008, employers extended offers to nearly 70% of their interns.

Here are a few tips to making the most of your internship:

1. If you are planning to do an internship for credit, be sure to check in with the program chair of your department to understand the specific time frame and requirements needed to gain academic credit. Be sure to discuss your interests and brainstorm ideas and resources for your search.  Your program chair may even have information on the locations of internships that were conducted by previous students and be able to refer you to those work sites. 

2. Next, work with your Career Services office to create and refine your resume and cover letter.  They can usually assist you with looking for internship leads based.  Students are responsible for the internship search process.  Staff may be able to assist you with connecting with alumni and area employers, and practice your interviewing delivery.

3. It can take awhile to set up your internship.  Be sure to allow at least 3-4 months before the school term begins to start your internship search process.   

4. Start by asking yourself the following questions: What kind of internship experience do you seek?  What skills do you hope to acquire or enhance during the internship? What are your academic and personal goals for an internship? What are the characteristics of your ideal internship site? 
5. Explore online resources and internship boards.

6. Contact prospective internship sites directly. Many internships (and jobs) are never even posted. 

Begin to develop or utilize your personal network. Networking is a simple and powerful internship and job search tool. Most people are eager to help sincere, motivated college students explore interests and launch careers. Talk to family, friends, faculty, former or current supervisors, etc. to get ideas of where to find internship opportunities. 

Internships are a great learning experience and offer you the opportunity to learn about professional work environments and gain experience and contacts all at the same time.