An internship is

· A work experience allied to a student's major and/or career aim

· An experience that should boost a student's academic, career, and personal development

· Administered by a professional in the field

· An experience that can be one academic tenure or multiple academic terms in length

· Paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time

· An experience that is jointly agreed upon by the student, supervisor and faculty member

 

Benefits of an Internship

One of the periodic themes in any entry-level job search is lack of experience. "Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me without one?" The answer is simple: Get an internship!

Students planning to get a permanent job should accompany their academic preparation with a range of other experiences, such as study in a foreign country, public service, undergraduate research experiences, involvement in sports and other student organizations, membership in pre-professional organizations, and internships.

An internship offers you a platform to learn by doing the task in a real-world where you are supervised by a work-place professional and have the opportunity to achieve your own learning goals, without the accountabilities of being a permanent employee.

An internship also offers you the opportunity to work with someone professional in his/her who can become a mentor for you - not only in the internship but during the course of your career.

 

Career Exploration

· Study about a career field from the inside and decide if this is the right career field for you

· Work alongside a professional in your preferred career area

· Observe the workplace, in addition, to see if it matches expectations

 

Leadership and Skill Development

· Learn new skills and enhance your knowledge base while gaining confidence in your capabilities

· Opportunity to exercise communication and teamwork skills

· Gain industry knowledge first hand from an organization and experts

· Provide evidence that you have initiative, are dependable and have a sense of responsibility

· Apply some of the concepts learned in school and colleges and provide a passage between school and the professional world

· Achieve a sense of triumph by contributing to an organization

 

Networking and Establishing Mentors and References

· Come across new people and rehearsal networking skills while establishing a network of professional contacts, mentors, and references

· Open to door to guidance on the next steps to take on your career path

 

Resume Enhancements

· Gain treasured experience and accomplishments to add to your resume and/or boost your application to graduate school

· Create an advantage over other jobs or graduate school applicants and be one step ahead of everyone.

· Potential for a permanent job offer at the end of the internship based on your performance and acquired skills.