With over 60% of hiring managers now reporting that they intend to offer internship opportunities to students, this student work option is becoming more and more popular with companies across the United States. Employers aren't just looking for cheap labor; in fact, most of today's internships are paid, and some even pay comparable rates to what you'd find with a regular job.
So what's the appeal of interns? Easy - it's a way for companies can find the most ambitious students and test them out before offering a full-time position, all while giving the student real life work experience.
If you're a student, you can't go wrong by adding an internship to your resume. Some skills simply can't be learned in a classroom setting, so an internship is hands-down one of the best ways to prepare for your career. Not only that, but internships can also help you better understand your job options so you can make more confident career choices after you graduate.
Did you know? Between 30% and 40% of students participate in internships, and that number will only continue to rise as the job market gets more competitive.
This guide is designed to give you a brief run-down of what you need to know about internships if this is an option you're considering. On the following pages, you'll find information about:
- What is an Internship?
- How to Find and Get Internships
- Paid Summer Internships
- Unpaid Internships
- Internships for College Credit
- High School Summer Internships
- International Internships
In other words, no matter what your internship interests, we have information and advice to help you!
Internships and Your Career
In the following pages, we'll talk more about how internships can benefit your career, but even now, you likely realize that an internship can help prepare you for your first job out of school. Today's job market in almost every industry is super competitive, so having a bit of an edge can mean the difference between landing the job of your dreams and receiving yet another rejection letter.
Believe it or not, internships can actually go on to help you throughout your entire career. While most people immediately see the short-term benefits of participating in an internship program, it may not be immediately apparent to you what the long-term benefits could be. Consider the following, however:
- If you are laid off, an internship manager from the past might be able to connect you with companies that are hiring. Stay in contact with your internship network!
- Your experiences as an intern give you an insider's look as to how companies are structured and what it takes to rise to the top, so as you're climbing the corporate ladder keep your experiences in mind.
- Students who decide to go back to grad school, even later in life, have stronger undergraduate transcripts if they include an internship.
- If the company where you work hires an intern, you'll better understand the issues this worker faces and how to best make use of him or her.
- Although your internship company might not be hiring today, positions may open in the future. When that happens, former (good) interns will always have the advantage over people they don't know.
Internships are undoubtedly more popular in certain industries than in others. In some industries, it is actually expected that you participate in an internship program.
However, regardless of your field of study, there are internships out there and applying for them is a good idea.
An Intern's Place in the Corporate World
The role of the intern is changing. The stereotypical intern does little more than make coffee and run errands, but few internship positions are truly this monotonous. Interns today get their hands dirty, working alongside some of the most valuable employees in any given company to learn more about the industry in the most hands-on way possible.
That's not to say an intern isn't the low man on the totem pole. As an intern, you have to earn the respect of your coworkers and prove that you've able to do a good job, even as you are learning skills for the first time. If you can do that, your internship might not be the end of your relationship with a company, and at the very least, you'll leave with some great references.
Let's get right into the information you need to know, though. On the next page, we'll start by talking about exactly what an internship is - and what it is not.
Quick Summary:
- Internships are becoming more and more common among college students.
- An internship can give you a competitive edge when applying for a traditional job.
- Long after your internship ends, you can reap the benefits from this job.
- Interns may be on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, but they do much more than just making coffee.