What are the benefits of an internship?
An internship offers you a chance to learn and discover different elements that may interest you in any area. It can also be the deciding factor that best predicts if this field is something you would really be interested in pursuing as a future career choice.
Career Competitive Edge
With today’s job market being highly competitive, you will need to make yourself stand out amongst the rest. Students who have completed internships obtain employment more quickly following graduation. It also looks great on your resume! Although you may occasionally have to make coffee or file papers, an internship is a great opportunity to gain real world experience and to get your foot in the door.
"Since I don’t know what I want to do as a career, I won’t know what internships I want."
An internship helps assists in your career decision. Regardless of which internship you choose, it is a great opportunity to find out about what you want to do in your career in terms of interest. You may discover a new interest through an internship experience.
Career Exploration and Decision-Making
Internships offer you a chance to learn and discover. You will never buy a car without a test drive first, right? Then you will never know if a particular career is right for you until you take it for a test drive. You may find out that your dream job really isn’t what you expected. You may even discover a new interest you never knew you had.
Networking and Professional Connections
Did you know that 80% of the jobs available out there are NOT advertised? Your internship can provide a great environment for you to find a Mentor who can help you learn about your field of interest based on his/her own experiences and professional connections. Take the time, when appropriate, to ask the professionals at your internship site questions about their job responsibilities and their career journey. In addition, if you take your internship seriously, are reliable, and perform your job well, you increase your chances of receiving outstanding professional references for future employers. Plus, due to the professional relations/rapport you have built, you could be personally recommended for upcoming job opportunities in the department you are currently working in or elsewhere in or outside of your internship site.
Remember, your internship site is place where you can expand the network of people you know – the bigger your network, the more success you can have in your future career – Its not just what you know, its who you know!
