This is because the student is not there to earn money, but rather to earn valuable knowledge and experience. If an internship is unpaid, it is usually subject to stringent labor guidelines. In addition, some states have their own regulations regarding unpaid interns.
For example, unpaid interns in California must receive college credit for their work in lieu of pay. The majority of internships in the U. This means that they are essentially on-the-job training in a field that the student or young worker is interested in. However, there are also research internships, which are more common in scientific fields. With a research internship, a student will examine a particular topic on behalf of a business before producing a written study or presentation.
The first step in finding an internship is to determine what you need. If you are a college freshman, for example, you may be interested in exploring a variety of different internships that can help you determine your major or ultimate career path. Seniors in college, on the other hand, usually have very specific goals for their internships. These students want to gain valuable work experience and discover opportunities for employment after graduation.
Like finding a job, the process for finding an internship can be challenging and time consuming. There are thousands of websites that students can use to find internships.
However, not all sites are created equal or produce the best internship opportunities. Here are a few suggestions of places to look for internships:. All this information is great, but why should I bother with an internship? The experts at Fremont College understand that there are a variety of benefits a student can gain from participating in an internship:. Unfortunately, you need to obtain a job before you can gain experience.
Internships are a great way for college students, recent graduates or anyone considering a career change to obtain valuable work experience. Gain valuable work experience The hands-on work experience interns receive is invaluable and cannot be obtained in a classroom setting, making this one of the most important benefits of internships. Interns have the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge to real work experiences, witnessing firsthand the day-to-day job duties they can expect to encounter in their chosen field.
In addition to learning the specialized skills of a particular field, transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and computer proficiency are also obtained in an internship, fully preparing interns to enter the workforce upon graduation. Explore a career path Exploring is an important part of the college experience, and internships are a great way for students to acquaint themselves with the field they are interested in.
The most successful job searching usually comes from meeting others in your field who can recommend you for open positions. Internships are a practical way to expand your job network. The professionals you will meet might be the most valuable connection to your future jobs, so showing curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness can help professional contacts see your potential.
This valuable job experience enables you to fill out your resume with honesty and specificity. Not only will you be able to add the duties and projects from your internship to the experience section of your resume, but you will also be able to more clearly describe your objective for a permanent position.
The supervisors and mentors you meet during your internship can be a valuable reference for you as you pursue a full-time job. The more positive and hardworking you are, the more likely managers are willing to recommend you for open positions. References generated from an internship can be valuable in your job searches because those managers will have known you personally and seen how you contributed to the company. They can speak to specifics and describe your developing skills and how your education prepares you for employment.
If your internship is a positive experience for you and the people you work for, you could be hired for a permanent position at the company. Hiring managers often use internships as an interview process to determine which interns would be a good fit for open positions. Internships can act as preliminary employment training, and human resources personnel and managers can observe you in various situations to determine if you might be a valuable addition to a team.
It reduces some stress you might face in looking for a job without making internship contacts. Even if that company does not have an available permanent position, you can still move on with contacts and mentors in your field. The transition from college to full-time employment can fill you with excitement, anxiety, hope and ambition all at once.
An internship is a good way to fill some transition time with the work you hope to do long-term. It can eliminate some pressure of quickly finding a permanent job and help you apply the skills and knowledge you have been studying into a practical situation. Internships can show you how a company develops leaders rather than just learning about it in the abstract.
You can observe excellent time management skills and make a note of those you want to emulate. You may learn about valuable collaboration and cooperation skills. If you think of an internship as an extension of your education, you are likely to have a whole range of confidence-building attributes to apply to your future employment.
Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. When you take advantage of internship opportunities, you may find a position and company that you wish to work for in the future. By completing an internship, you will be able to show that company that you have the skills and the drive to fill one of their entry-level positions. Many companies actually prefer to hire interns as they will learn about their company and what the position entails, making it easier for them to fit in with the company with little additional training.
From learning soft skills, to gaining professional experience, internships can help you get a jump start on the career you have always envisioned. Home Student Resources 8 Reasons why internships rock.
Student Resources. Written by. EHL Insights. You Can Explore a Variety of Industries and Career Options Most degree plans offer a wide range of career options in different industries. You Can Build a Professional Network No matter what career path you choose, networking is a crucial part of succeeding.
You Can Apply Your Knowledge in the Professional World You will learn a lot through your college course but still may not understand or know how to apply these skills in the business world. You Can Strengthen Your Resume A college degree definitely adds strength to your resume, but as the professional world becomes more competitive, many businesses are also looking for real-world experience as well.
You Can Improve You Time Management and Communication Skills Time management and communication are two of the most critical skills that you will utilize in any type of position. You Can Learn From Others Even though learning from others seems like a normal thing in almost any setting, with an internship, you will be able to observe other employees performing their job roles and utilizing the necessary skills to be successful in that position.
You Can See How a Professional Workplace Operates You will learn the basics of business operations from your school textbooks and lectures, but in the real world, not all businesses operate the same.
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