“What are you going to do this summer?”
I can’t even remember how many times I’ve heard that question throughout my life. Okay, I can probably figure it out by counting how many years of my life I’ve spent in school and multiplying it by 10. I must admit that I’ve been guilty of asking this question to my friends back in college. The idea of having a “summer” still intrigues me to this day. In fact, 2008 will be the first year since I started kindergarten that I’m not going to have a summer break.
Some people like to travel over the summer. Some people like to work. Some people even enjoy sitting at home in front of a computer blogging all day. I’ve tried all three, and each one has its pros and cons. However, in over two decades of summer vacations, my favorite summers were in college. In particular, the best experiences I had were the two summers in which I participated in internships.
While an internship may not sound as exciting as backpacking across Europe or sleeping in till 1 PM everyday, every internship I have had has turned out to be a blast. No matter how much you enjoy being lazy, you have to admit that summer does get pretty boring after a while if you don’t have anything to do. With that being said, here are four reasons why I think internships are a college student’s best friend.
You get paid.
All right, not all internships are paid, but the larger the company, the more likely it is that they’ll pay you. While a paid internship is definitely preferable, you will probably still get something out of an unpaid internship. After I interned at a small consulting company one summer, they sent a massive care package to me the following semester at school. Even if you don’t get money or a care package, you will still gain something very valuable from the experience, which brings us to the next reason on the list.
You get experience.
An internship gives you the opportunity to get practical experience in a field. When you get job interviews after graduating, most employers will be more impressed to see that you have practical experience rather than classroom experience. If you’re lucky, you might even land an internship at a company that you want to work at after you graduate. Some companies even use internships to see if people are a good fit before hiring them on full time.
You get a break from school.
Everyone needs to take a break from what they’re doing every once in awhile. While working may not sound like taking a break, it will feel like one because work is so much different from school. You’ll most likely get a little taste of the 9-to-5 routine, but the great part about an internship is that it’s short. It’s kind of like trying on shoes. If the shoe doesn’t fit, then you can throw it out and try a different one. If it does fit, then you can start working towards obtaining a full time job in that field.
You meet new people.
If there’s one thing I wish they would have emphasized more in college, it’s the importance of networking. The truth is that there are plenty of other people out there who are just as talented as you are, competing for the same jobs that you’re trying to get. So if all of these people seem equally skilled on paper, how does an employer decide who to hire?
Some employers may check references from previous bosses or rely on referrals from current employees. Others may have strong ties with certain colleges and primarily hire students from those schools. Notice how all of the things I just mentioned have nothing to do with you. Instead, they all depend on the network of people and places that you’re associated with. Being skilled at something does you no good if the employers who need your skills aren’t able to find you. By meeting more people, you increase your chances of being found and expand your opportunities for finding an ideal job. An internship is a great opportunity to meet new people, make new connections, and start showing other people what you’re capable of achieving.
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I truly wish I had done more internships. They are incredibly valuable to getting an “in” at a company.
Hi,
I’m so happy to have found this post. I’m a Mom of a college freshman, and I will forward your blog to him to subscribe to as well, in the hopes that he can avoid becoming a broke grad student
I’ve also recently read a great book called Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World that is well-written and witty (not your typical how-to-get-a-job book serious tone) that applies to job seekers at every stage of life, but it is especially written for college kids, Gen Y’s and Millenials. Check it out.
Internships and other life experiences are vital in one’s career path and for networking these days.
Thanks for covering an important topic.
Cheers,
Linda
Great post! As you mentioned, internships are imperative for students to gain experience in their field of interest and network. They are also great for grad students who want to test out a company. Whether it is a paid or unpaid position, internships will help you gain new skills and experience that a classroom setting cannot provide. Whether you have had an internship or not, visit InternshipRatings.com to see what fellow interns have thought about their experiences at companies in various industries across the U.S..