What Is the Purpose of an Internship?

Many students attain valuable experience from internships.

Internships are available in nearly every field and are growing in popularity since the recession that began in 2007. College students can often secure internships that provide academic credit or--at times--monetary compensation. Much of the time, an internship serves as an excellent way to build a resume. According to The New York Times, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 50 percent of students graduating from college in 2008 had been involved in internships.

Career Decisions

Interning can help a student make decisions about a career path.

Getting an internship can help students find out what what they want to do with their careers. Internships provide a glimpse into a certain industry, allowing the intern to see whether she wants to work in that field or not. For example, if a student is interested in the magazine industry and accepts an internship with the magazine's fashion department, she might find that writing about fashion is much more exciting than handling clothing. Later, she might seek a writing-related internship to fulfill her interests.

Job-Seeking Edge

Internships can really bolster a resume.

Students entering the work force increase their chances of employer interest when they have internships on their resumes, according to the website Quintessential Careers. When employers see that the individual has some understanding of the industry, the candidate may have a higher chance of securing the job. Having an internship on the resume indicates that the student is some what prepared to enter the specific work force.

Experience

Valuable experience is learned from an internship.

Internships allow students to gain valuable experience in their areas of career interest. Often, the more experience a student has, the stronger he is as a job candidate in the future. For instance, if a student wants to work as an editor, an internship can teach him the skills she needs in regard to understanding style, writing well and reading for errors.

Networking

Interning allows people to meet other professionals.

Students who intern are able to meet people in the industry. Having valuable, experienced contacts can be helpful in the future for those who are seeking employment. Interns also network with other interns, who can help one another in the future by sharing job and contact information. Interns who work well may also ask if they may use their intern coordinator or boss as a work reference, which boosts a resume's strength.

Professionalism

Interns learn valuable information about work ethic.

Internships can provide general professional skills that may apply to any job. Some interns learn about proper work phone etiquette, office organization and computer programs in addition to their specific intern duties. Internships also provide a peek into the office environment, showing the intern what work is truly like. Having an internship also requires the student to be responsible and reliable. Interns have to get to their internships on time and complete the work assigned to them, teaching them a lot about what to expect in the work force.

References

• The New York Times: The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not
• Quintessential Careers: Internship Do's and Don'ts

Resources

• Washington Post: Complete Guide to Internships
• Internship Opportunities