PARENTS Benefits of Internship
One of the recurring themes in any entry level job search is: lack of experience. "Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me?" The answer is simple: Get an internship!
Students planning to enter the permanent work force should complement their academic preparation with a range of other experiences, such as study abroad, community service, undergraduate research experiences, participation in sports and other student organizations, membership of pre-professional organizations, and internships.
An internship offers you the chance to learn by doing in a setting where you are supervised by a workplace professional and have the opportunity to achieve your own learning goals, without the responsibilities of being a permanent employee.
Students say internships can:
- Help you learn about a career field from the inside
- Help you decide if this is the right career field for you
- Enable you to work alongside a professional in your chosen career area
- Allow you to observe the work place and see if it matches your expectations
- Give you new skills and add to your knowledge base
- Give you confidence in your own abilities
- Let you apply some of the ideas you've learned in school
- Give you the opportunity to practice your communication and teamwork skills
- Allow you to meet new people and practice your networking skills
- Provide evidence that you have initiative, are reliable, and have a sense of responsibility
- Provide a bridge between school and the professional world
- Make a valuable addition to your resume
- Enhance your application to Graduate School
- Open the door to a job offer or a recommendation for steps to take next on your career path
- Help you gain an advantage over other applicants
- Be fun and rewarding experiences
- The more semesters graduates spend interning, the less time they spend looking for employment. Internships typically predict higher starting salaries. (Horowitz, 1999; Donovan, Garnett, 2001)
- That internships have the ability to stimulate a student's involvement in the educational learning process. (Medoff, 1993)
- Undergraduates who receive credit for internships are shown to have a stronger preference for active experimentation, while those who do not receive credit prefer a more reflective observation learning style. (Johnson, 1991)