You need to start concentrating on your future as soon as you enter your new college or university. Your college experience will lay the groundwork for the abilities you’ll need to achieve your future professional objectives. It can lead to a number of internship opportunities that can serve as steppingstones to a job in your preferred industry in addition to giving you the degree and credentials you need to get the job you want.
The hard truth is that college is becoming more and more accessible to students, which means a large percentage of those seeking the same jobs you are will likely also have a degree. With so much happening in college, both academically and socially, during the years you may be wondering, why should I get an internship? Due to this, finding a job after college is much more competitive, and it can be challenging to stand out from the crowd.
Unless you have experience. And that brings up another point: You might be competing for a job not just with other college graduates but also with candidates who have experience in the field. That’s where an internship can do you some good. Internships give you the opportunity to learn the business by doing real-world work. That means potential employers won’t have to invest as much money to properly train you. Even better, since many businesses prefer to hire internally, current interns may be offered many entry-level positions.
According to statistics, internships can give college students an advantage when looking for full-time jobs after graduation. Indeed, a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that 56% of 2019 college students who interned while pursuing a degree turned that experience into a full-time hire with the business. Additionally, those who don’t land a job with their internship employer still gain valuable experience they can use to their advantage when applying for other jobs.
Statistics demonstrate that student interns not only have an advantage when it comes to landing positions, but also do well when it comes to maintaining those positions. The NACE report states that after a year, interns are retained at a rate of 71%. The retention rate for those who found a different job after their internship was 59 percent. The retention rate for those hired without an internship or prior employment was only 42. 4 percent.
While it is not necessary for college students looking for employment to complete an internship, it can undoubtedly make them stand out when employers are considering recent graduates to fill entry-level positions. Check out the numerous advantages of student internship programs if you need more persuasion.
Benefits of an Internship
What is an internship?
An internship is a temporary position that is hired for. They may be compensated or uncompensated, as long as the intern is primarily working to gain experience. Typically, while pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in your field of interest, you apply for internships. Once accepted, you work for a company for one or more months, either full- or part-time. You could work as an intern over the course of the summer, a semester, or a quarter while taking classes. Some internships allow you to receive college credit upon completion.
You can complete college requirements, build your resume, and gain valuable work experience through internships. They give you the chance to explore your interests and develop personal career goals while introducing you to a variety of aspects of full-time employment.
Benefits of internships
When you graduate from college and begin on your chosen career path, take into account how an internship might help you focus and prepare for future employment. Here are some advantages of internships for students: .
1. Job experience
Frequently, requirements for jobs are listed, including education and the required level of experience. You probably lack the necessary experience if you are starting your first job out of college or a vocational training program. An internship is a perfect way to fill that gap. You can participate in meetings and complete tasks in a real-world setting to gain valuable insight into how a business in your field operates.
2. Research experience
For instance, an internship in the sciences might involve helping with research in a lab. You can put to use the research techniques you mastered in college courses and significantly advance the vital research the lab conducts. Some permanent research jobs require this kind of post-education training. Your choice of lab work can be influenced by internship opportunities.
3. Access to a variety of tasks and departments
While some internships, such as those in lab research, may assign you to a specific task each day, other workplaces may give you the opportunity to interact with people in different departments and jobs. You could assist senior management, attend meetings, carry out small tasks for projects, or simply observe how the office operates on a daily basis. If your field of study was general, like a B. A. For instance, an internship at a publishing house where you can observe how each department functions in English could be helpful in determining the type of publishing job you want to pursue.
4. Mentorship
The strongest mentor-mentee relationships frequently begin with a personal connection that improves the experience for both parties. Working as an intern may enable you to naturally meet potential mentors and build connections that help direct your career path.
You have the opportunity to express your personality, exhibit deference and respect, and ask for advice and input in person. Even if you decide to take a full-time job elsewhere after your internship, it may still be possible for your relationship to grow naturally in that environment.
5. Help guide career goals
You might study a range of subjects during your education to identify your interests. Some people find that having a college education makes it easier to choose the exact type of career they want. Others find that studying provides a wide range of experiences that open up a variety of career options. Without making a firm commitment to that specific career path, an internship can give you work experience by exposing you to the rigors and tasks of the day-to-day workplace. It can enable you to meet people who can provide you with career advice and direction, and it can assist you in determining whether particular jobs fit your personality and your talents.
6. Create a professional network
The best job searching results typically come from networking with people in your industry who can recommend you for open positions. Internships are a practical way to expand your job network. The people you meet professionally may be the most important link to your future employment, so being curious, enthusiastic, and willing can help potential employers see your potential.
7. Build a strong resume
You can accurately and precisely fill out your resume thanks to this worthwhile work experience. You will be able to more succinctly state your objective for a permanent position in addition to adding the responsibilities and projects from your internship to the experience section of your resume.
8. Secure good references and recommendations
The mentors and managers you work with during your internship may prove to be helpful references for you as you look for a full-time position. Managers are more likely to recommend you for open positions if you are optimistic and hardworking. Because the managers of your internship will have known you personally and seen how you contributed to the company, references you receive from that experience can be helpful when applying for jobs. They can discuss specifics, describe how your skills are developing, and explain how your education is preparing you for the workforce.
9. Transition to a permanent job
You might be offered a permanent position at the company if your internship proves to be a positive experience for both you and the people you work for. To find out which interns would be a good fit for open positions, hiring managers frequently use internships as a form of interviewing
Human resources professionals and managers can observe you in a variety of situations during internships to see if you might be a valuable addition to a team. Internships can serve as preliminary employment training. It alleviates some of the stress that comes with job hunting without developing any contacts from your internship. With contacts and mentors in your industry, you can still move on even if that company doesn’t have a permanent position open.
10. Build confidence
You may experience a range of emotions as you make the switch from college to a full-time job, including excitement, anxiety, hope, and ambition. A good way to fill some transitional time with the work you hope to do long-term is through an internship. It can help you put your newly acquired skills and knowledge to use in a real-world setting and relieve some of the pressure of finding a permanent job quickly.
Instead of just learning about leadership development in theory, internships can show you how a company actually develops leaders. You can identify people who have excellent time management skills and make a note of them. You may learn about valuable collaboration and cooperation skills. If you view an internship as a continuation of your education, you will probably have a variety of self-confidence-boosting skills that you can use in your future employment.
FAQ
What are 5 benefits of an internship?
- Job experience. Frequently, requirements for jobs are listed, including education and the required level of experience.
- Research experience. …
- Access to a variety of tasks and departments. …
- Mentorship. …
- Help guide career goals. …
- Create a professional network. …
- Build a strong resume. …
- Secure good references and recommendations.
What are the benefits of having interns?
- How Businesses Benefit From Internship Programs.
- Interns Give a Fresh Perspective.
- Enhances Your Social Strategy.
- Interns May Become Entry-Level Hires.
- Extra Set of Hands.
- Mentorship Opportunities.
- Reiterates the Importance of Strong Leaders.
What did you gain from internship?
Interns gain transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and computer proficiency in addition to the specialized knowledge of a particular field, fully preparing them to enter the workforce after graduation.
