An intern is one who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, making it similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. Student internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, or gain school credit. Internships provide the employers with cheap or free labor for (typically) low-level tasks, and also the prospect of interns returning to the company after completing their education and requiring little or no training.
An internship may be paid, unpaid or partially paid (in the form of a stipend). Paid internships are most common in the medical, architecture science, engineering, law, business (especially accounting and finance), and technology and advertising fields. Internships in non-profit organization such as charities and think tanks are often unpaid, volunteer positions. Internships may be part-time or full-time; typically they are part-time during the university year and full-time in the summer, and they typically last 6–12 weeks, but can be shorter or longer. The act of job shadowing may also constitute as interning.
Internship positions are available from businesses, government departments, non-profit groups and organizations. Due to strict labor laws, European internships are mostly unpaid, although they are still popular among non-Europeans in order to gain international exposure on one's résumé and for foreign language improvement.
Why You Need an Internship
Aside from a college degree, real life experience is the key to succeeding in today’s job market. Your experience will always provide a competitive advantage in building your career and contacts. Employers look for individuals who can provide evidence that they possess the transferable qualities and skills needed to perform well in the working world. But you may be asking yourself how you can gain this “real life experience”—the answer is simple: internships!
Internships help you gain knowledge about general work functions and learn more about industries and fields that may be of interest to you. Many times an internship will allow you to explore and create work experiences tailored to your specific interests and goals. You’ll make contacts that can help you answer questions about potential careers and even help you find that important first full-time position after graduation.
An internship also helps you build vital career-related skills such as organizational, written and interpersonal communication skills, and internship experience is fast becoming a “must have” for obtaining a full-time position after graduation. A strong academic background is always great, but it is not enough to indicate whether or not a candidate would be good in a specific work environment. Employers expect a strong candidate to possess confidence, good communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well with others.
Most importantly, perhaps, an internship gives you something to talk about during job interviews and provides a way to prove your value to an employer! The ability to talk about a “real life” business experience and showcase your skills during a job interview is extremely valuable.
Dr. Ana Berios-Allison of Ohio State University describes important in steps in obtaining a meaningful internship and getting the most out of it:
1. Set your internship goals:
• How will your internship help you develop career-related experiences?
• How will your internship assist you in developing valuable knowledge related to your field?
• What do you want to gain from your internship?
• How do you want to be enriched by your experience?
• Beyond enhancing your resume with career-related experiences and building contacts for a future job search, are there any other valuable goals your internship can help you attain?
2. Identify what you can do for them (What do you have to offer?)
• Technical skills- basic knowledge of personal or mainframe computers, word processing or spreadsheet software, html, power point, publisher, etc.
• Communication skills- writing, public speaking, instructing.
• Artistic skills- designing flyers, posters, logos.
• Organizational skills- coordinating, managing, administering.
• Foreign language skills.
• Positive attitude--this is assessed at all phases of the job campaign (cover letter, resume, interview), along with enthusiasm, willingness to tackle a task, eagerness to learn.
• Good work behavior- punctuality, ability to meet deadlines, careful attention to details.
• Research and data analysis.
• Problem solving, asking thoughtful questions, ability to assess situations and people.
• Leadership- influence/persuasion.
• Relationship-building and teamwork experience- group projects, committees, service projects.
• Motivation and demonstrated work ethic- part-time jobs, summer work, volunteering, internships.
• Demonstrated time and project management- resume reflecting multiple responsibilities, commitments.
• Demonstrated adaptability and versatility- range of experiences, skills, and coursework areas.
3. Getting it together
• Prepare your resume; contact your Career Services Office to have a professional counselor/consultant critique it.
• Make contact with employers. In some cases, your initial contact with employers will be made by a professor, an internship coordinator, on-campus recruiting or another individual. In most cases, however, you will be responsible for making the contact yourself by either calling a prospective internship site or sending your resume with an accompanying cover letter.
• Prepare for the internship interview- indicate clear career goals, research the organization, review interview questions, prepare some samples of your work to share and prepare questions to ask your interviewer. Follow up your interview with a thank you letter to show your appreciation for the interviewer's time and reiterate your interest in the position. Practice mock interviewing with a counselor with your Career Services Office.
4. Making the most out of your internship
• Ask yourself what typical emotional responses do interns have and how can you best handle your feelings?
• Inquire about how you get started. Find out about their expectations and what you will be doing.
• Reflect on how you will be communicating with your supervisor. How would you ask for feedback? How do you ask for a more challenging assignment? How do you ask for clarification or help? Can you turn down a request?
• Think about how you will react to negative feedback or handle errors.
• Consider how to make your supervisor and coworkers members of your network.
5. Exiting your internship
• Evaluate whether or not you met your learning objectives.
• Determine what your most important contribution was.
• Assess in what ways your internship disappointed you.
• Review what new skills you developed or honed.
• Analyze how your relationship with your supervisor either helped or hindered you in meeting your goals.
• Determine what the highlights of your internship were.
• List tips for future interns who select this internship.
VII. Communicating the value of your internship
• your next step is to update your resume, using compelling language to effectively communicate your improved experience, knowledge, and skills to potential employers. Visit a career counselor at your Career Services Office to assist you in the process.
• Secure letters of recommendation.
Follow these steps and work hard to find a meaningful internship - you’ll be paid back many times over in your career.
Why You Need an Internship
Aside from a college degree, real life experience is the key to succeeding in today’s job market. Your experience will always provide a competitive advantage in building your career and contacts. Employers look for individuals who can provide evidence that they possess the transferable qualities and skills needed to perform well in the working world. But you may be asking yourself how you can gain this “real life experience”—the answer is simple: internships!
Internships help you gain knowledge about general work functions and learn more about industries and fields that may be of interest to you. Many times an internship will allow you to explore and create work experiences tailored to your specific interests and goals. You’ll make contacts that can help you answer questions about potential careers and even help you find that important first full-time position after graduation.
An internship also helps you build vital career-related skills such as organizational, written and interpersonal communication skills, and internship experience is fast becoming a “must have” for obtaining a full-time position after graduation. A strong academic background is always great, but it is not enough to indicate whether or not a candidate would be good in a specific work environment. Employers expect a strong candidate to possess confidence, good communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well with others.
Most importantly, perhaps, an internship gives you something to talk about during job interviews and provides a way to prove your value to an employer! The ability to talk about a “real life” business experience and showcase your skills during a job interview is extremely valuable.
Dr. Ana Berios-Allison of Ohio State University describes important in steps in obtaining a meaningful internship and getting the most out of it:
1. Set your internship goals:
• How will your internship help you develop career-related experiences?
• How will your internship assist you in developing valuable knowledge related to your field?
• What do you want to gain from your internship?
• How do you want to be enriched by your experience?
• Beyond enhancing your resume with career-related experiences and building contacts for a future job search, are there any other valuable goals your internship can help you attain?
2. Identify what you can do for them (What do you have to offer?)
• Technical skills- basic knowledge of personal or mainframe computers, word processing or spreadsheet software, html, power point, publisher, etc.
• Communication skills- writing, public speaking, instructing.
• Artistic skills- designing flyers, posters, logos.
• Organizational skills- coordinating, managing, administering.
• Foreign language skills.
• Positive attitude--this is assessed at all phases of the job campaign (cover letter, resume, interview), along with enthusiasm, willingness to tackle a task, eagerness to learn.
• Good work behavior- punctuality, ability to meet deadlines, careful attention to details.
• Research and data analysis.
• Problem solving, asking thoughtful questions, ability to assess situations and people.
• Leadership- influence/persuasion.
• Relationship-building and teamwork experience- group projects, committees, service projects.
• Motivation and demonstrated work ethic- part-time jobs, summer work, volunteering, internships.
• Demonstrated time and project management- resume reflecting multiple responsibilities, commitments.
• Demonstrated adaptability and versatility- range of experiences, skills, and coursework areas.
3. Getting it together
• Prepare your resume; contact your Career Services Office to have a professional counselor/consultant critique it.
• Make contact with employers. In some cases, your initial contact with employers will be made by a professor, an internship coordinator, on-campus recruiting or another individual. In most cases, however, you will be responsible for making the contact yourself by either calling a prospective internship site or sending your resume with an accompanying cover letter.
• Prepare for the internship interview- indicate clear career goals, research the organization, review interview questions, prepare some samples of your work to share and prepare questions to ask your interviewer. Follow up your interview with a thank you letter to show your appreciation for the interviewer's time and reiterate your interest in the position. Practice mock interviewing with a counselor with your Career Services Office.
4. Making the most out of your internship
• Ask yourself what typical emotional responses do interns have and how can you best handle your feelings?
• Inquire about how you get started. Find out about their expectations and what you will be doing.
• Reflect on how you will be communicating with your supervisor. How would you ask for feedback? How do you ask for a more challenging assignment? How do you ask for clarification or help? Can you turn down a request?
• Think about how you will react to negative feedback or handle errors.
• Consider how to make your supervisor and coworkers members of your network.
5. Exiting your internship
• Evaluate whether or not you met your learning objectives.
• Determine what your most important contribution was.
• Assess in what ways your internship disappointed you.
• Review what new skills you developed or honed.
• Analyze how your relationship with your supervisor either helped or hindered you in meeting your goals.
• Determine what the highlights of your internship were.
• List tips for future interns who select this internship.
VII. Communicating the value of your internship
• your next step is to update your resume, using compelling language to effectively communicate your improved experience, knowledge, and skills to potential employers. Visit a career counselor at your Career Services Office to assist you in the process.
• Secure letters of recommendation.
Follow these steps and work hard to find a meaningful internship - you’ll be paid back many times over in your career.
Sample Cover Letter for an Internship
Your Address
…………………………………
…………………………………..
Date:
Company Address
…………………………………
…………………………………..
Dear ……………,
At the suggestion of Professors name, I am writing to ask you to please consider me for an internship with ……………….. (Company name) in the Human Resources department for the upcoming summer. I met A Professors name at university, and H/she told me about the internship and how it would be a great experience for me.
Currently, I am in my third year at ………. University. I'm working to receive a bachelor's degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources Management. While in school I worked for the Human Resources Department at ………. University where I assisted the Human Resources manager. I was in charge of the employee files and helped with their benefits. I believe that the experience I acquired would help me with the internship.
I am fluent in both English and Spanish, which I believe will be an asset when interacting with employees whose first language is not English. I'm looking forward to talking to you about this in person. I'm available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
…………………
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