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Key Takeaway: Wondering if an internship is right for you? Internships are short-term commitments that give you valuable real-world experience and allow you to explore your interests and gain practical skills. Internships provide many benefits such as helping you figure out what you do (or do not) want to do, giving you experience for your resume, and even potentially leading to a full-time job! To find an internship, build connections, ask your school for help, and search online. You’ll want to make sure you submit a strong resume and cover letter, as well. Once you have your internship, seek feedback, take on new opportunities, and build relationships along the way. All of this will set you up for a successful future career!
You might have heard about internships and their many benefits, but maybe you’re wondering if doing one is a good fit for you or how to even find the right opportunity. Whether you’re a high school student, college student, or recent graduate, this guide will cover everything you need to know about internships, from what they are and why they matter, to finding, applying, and making the most of your internship.
What Is an Internship?
An internship is a short-term work commitment with a company, ranging anywhere from a summer, semester, or even a full year. Internships may be paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, and are usually in-person, though many are becoming hybrid, with 64.8% of employers offering interns a hybrid internship as of 2023.
As an intern, you’ll get a true learning experience in a particular field or industry, develop important skills, make connections, and potentially land a full-time job. While beneficial to anyone, internships are especially important for those studying competitive fields like business, healthcare, or technology.
5 Good Reasons You Should Consider Doing An Internship
Internships can help you figure out what you want to do with your career and even make it easier to land your first full-time job. Here are a few reasons why you should consider an internship:
1. You’ll Gain Real Work Experience
Internships allow you to work side by side with other professionals who can help guide and teach you the ropes along the way. This is so important because it provides first-hand experience that is not offered in the classroom.
Not only can an internship help you gain valuable insight into a specific career, but you’ll also get an idea of what an entry-level role might entail. During this time, you’ll get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses and whether or not you have the skills and aptitude for a particular career.
2. You’ll Figure Out What You Do (or Do Not) Want To Do
One overlooked benefit of an internship is that you can figure out what you want to do. You get to “try out” a job without fully committing. Maybe you’ll end up in an industry you love, but if not, you’ll at least know what you don’t want to do.
For example, say you are enamored with the idea of becoming a fashion designer… but you have no real experience with it. An internship with a fashion design house could give you a much-needed idea of whether this is the right career for you or not.
3. It Looks Good on a Resume
Every employer is looking to hire someone who is experienced—but how do you get experience? Through an internship. One value of an internship is that you can add work experience to your resume, which will further verify the skills you list.
4. You Might Get Land a Full-Time Job
Many employers use internships as a way to hire for open roles. In fact, 68% of interns get a full-time offer from the company they interned for. During your time as an intern, you’ll be closely observed as you train and tackle projects to see if you are ready for a full-time position. Make sure you focus on showing off your skills, initiative, and passion for the company if you want to maximize your chances of securing that job.
5. You Can Build Connections
If you don’t end up working as an employee at your place of interning, you’ll still have the opportunity to build a network of professional contacts you can reach out to when you start your career after college. Establishing connections can really pay off. After all, you never know when an opportunity might arise. A strong relationship could be the ticket to getting your dream job.
How to Get an Internship
Looking for an internship can be a job in and of itself! Now that you know why internships are important, it’s time to begin your search for an appropriate internship opportunity for you. Here are a few steps you can take to find one:
Ask Your Friends and Family
A great place to start your search for an internship in your field of study is within your network. Your parents, friends, and friends’ parents are sure to know of someone who would be willing to take you on as an intern.
Before you start making inquiries, it could be helpful to self-reflect on your career interests so you can narrow down the types of internships you are looking at. You don’t want to ask a favor and then find yourself in a predicament because the internship involves a lot of outdoor work when your career interests revolve around doing laboratory research.
Talk to Your Teachers, Counselors, and Advisors
Your school teachers and counselors will be excellent resources. They will know where other students interned and will also have names of companies that have earned a reputation for encouraging internships. Some schools even have a designated resource area where they maintain internship listings. If you are not sure where to find it, just ask.
Look Online
Of course, no search for internships can be considered complete without searching the internet for an internship. If you are not entirely sure about what you want to do, start by doing a search for all opportunities available in your area and choose something that you think may be the most beneficial for you.
Look at Your Favorite Companies/Fields
If you are pretty sure about the career or interest you wish to pursue, you can search for opportunities in a specific field or check out certain companies. Many companies advertise all kinds of job opportunities on their website. That includes full-time job opportunities to part-time, temporary, summer, and internship opportunities. Spend some time browsing around. If you find one that might be a good fit, apply!
Applying for an Internship
Keep a note of all the opportunities you come across and the internship details so you don’t forget. With your list in hand, you can begin applying. To beat the competition, you must put in all your efforts to put together the best application possible. Remember, the more applications you send out the better your chances of finding an opportunity that’s just right for you. With that said, keep these few tips in mind when applying:
Write a Cover Letter
You will want to write a compelling cover letter emphasizing why you are interested in the opportunity and why you think you would be the best person for that role. Make it short but convincing. Three things you will want to mention in your cover letter are:
- What triggered your passion for that particular role
- How it will help you gain the required knowledge and skills
- The value you will bring to the company
Create a Personalized Resume
Craft a personalized resume that lists your educational qualifications and your various extracurricular accomplishments in a way that is appropriate for the position you’re applying for. Look it over and find ways to tweak your resume so it is relevant to the company. If it’s too generic, employers will be able to tell and it might land in the “no, thanks” pile.
Clean Up Your Social Media
Cleaning up your social media presence is something many students don’t think to do. However, you will need to, whether you are applying for an internship or for college admissions. Not only should you delete everything that puts you in an unfavorable light, but you also need to start developing a positive presence. One way to do this is by creating and growing a professional LinkedIn profile and Facebook account to talk about your accomplishments and all things relevant to your career interests.
Making the Most of Your Internship
Once you are on the job site, you’ll want to make sure you make the most of your time and really learn all that you can. Keep in mind that all eyes are on you, so it’s important you make a good impression (especially if your goal is to work at said company).
Start setting goals, ask for feedback, and seek out new challenges so that you can have support along the way. Many students get internships when they’re in school, so it’s important you learn how to balance it with your other commitments. Be proactive, show enthusiasm, be willing to learn and receive feedback, and always be a team player.
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From Intern to Full-Time Employee
Internships are a great way to get real-world experience and learn new skills. As a bonus, many companies hire interns because they hope it will lead to a full-time job. Once you find, apply, and hopefully receive an internship, remember to give it your all (even if it’s not something you want to do in the future). It will look great on your resume and prepare you for the job market. Who knows, you might just find a career you love when all is said and done!
Wondering which career is a good fit for you? Use College Raptor’s Career Finder to search through our database of careers and look at average salaries, the types of majors needed, and more!
