The transition from college to a full-time job can be intimidating to say the least. One way to take the stress out of the job search is to be as prepared as possible via internships.
So why are internships so important? Here are five solid reasons:
1) Related Work Experience: Every full-time job has some requirement when it comes to related work experience.
2) Company Culture Experience: Experience can’t be taught in a classroom. The only way to gain insight is in the field with a job or internship.
3) Expands Network: Working alongside managers and professionals expands your network and can lead to recommendations from many different types of people. A good resume contains recommendations from many sources.
4) Test The Industry: Decide if the industry is right for you. There is no better way to see if you like a certain industry than actually working in it. It helps you discover what you like and dislike about the industry and can even lead to the discovery that you enjoy doing something else better.
5) Class Credit: There is always the possibility of class credit. While part-time jobs can provide some extra spending money, they usually do not provide the type of work that schools require for class credit. That’s one less class worth of homework and tests you have to worry about.
Currently, I am a marketing intern at Studio 2055, a creative design group with expertise in graphic design, branding and marketing. Although I have only been working since the end of January, I have learned more than in an entire semester of class. I am enrolled in an internship class at the University of San Diego in order to receive class credit. This enables me to take one less class, giving me more time to spend at the internship.
In the next post, I will talk about what kind of attributes to look for in an internship and how to pick the best one for you.
