The Ins and Outs of Internships

Internships are positions providing students with practical experience. The department can offer internships to students as volunteers or for academic credit. Departments employ interns during the school year and also in the summer. Students can earn work experience

by participating in an internship. Interning in a field of choice will stand out on a students resume and help them with their job search after graduation. Participating interns gain on-the-job training that integrates education, career development and public service, while agencies hosting interns benefit from the contributions of creativeand innovative students. Everyone a student meets during the course of their internship is now a contact. These people can help guide their career path as they make their way into the business world. These people know other people in the industry as well and can provide introductions. The fellow interns they meet may also

become great contacts in the future. All students should explore the possibility of earning academic credit through their schools

Internships exist in a wide variety of industries and settings. An internship may be paid, unpaid or partially paid (in the form of a stipend). Paid internships are common in professional fields including medicine, architecture, science, engineering, law, business (especially accounting and finance), technology, and advertising. Non-profit charities and think tanks often have unpaid, volunteer positions. Internships may be part-time or full-time. A typical internship lasts 6–12 weeks, but can be shorter or longer, depending on the organization involved. The act of job shadowing may also constitute interning.

The two primary types of internships that exist in the United States ar...

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... be careful who you intern for. Some companies take advantage of interns and make then do the most menial, tedious tasks that will barely enhance their skills. Many interns come out from the experience feeling frustrated and as though they haven’t gained any valuable skills. They get trapped in one department and their exposure to the company overall is limited.

• Most internships aren’t that glamorous and it is extremely difficult to be offered an internship opportunity for a highly regarded company. In addition, internships can become extremely expensive to maintain, particularly if there is no funding available and they are maintained for a prolonged period of time.

• In addition to the above, it is important to acknowledge that whilst the individual is carrying out the internship, they are missing out on opportunities to place a foot on the career ladder.