Internships are extremely beneficial when it comes to preparing for your future career. Gone are the days when it was enough to have a college degree and good grades. In today’s highly-competitive job market, employers are looking for candidates who also have hands-on experience in their fields. So if you are looking to gain an edge over your peers, you’ll need to have an internship.
What will an internship do for me?
CNN explains, Besides getting a foot in the door with a potential employer and looking good on a résumé, internships have other advantages:
-
The opportunity to “test drive” a career
-
Chances to network
-
Establishing relationships with mentors
-
Possible college credit or certification
-
An introduction to the field’s culture and etiquette (Are clients addressed by their first name? Are jeans appropriate for Casual Friday?)
-
Accumulating new skills
-
Gaining a “real world” perspective on an occupation (How much overtime do employees really work? How much time is spent behind a desk vs. in the field?)
Why do companies hire interns?
There are also numerous benefits for businesses when they hire an intern. First, it is a way for companies to give back to a community that gives them support. Second, it helps them build their potential employee pool with people who have already worked within their company, know the ropes, and demonstrated what they are capable of doing. Third, companies benefit from the talent you bring to the table. Forget about the scenarios you’ve seen in sitcoms where the poor intern spends his or her days going on coffee runs or walking the boss’s dog; today’s internships are all about getting valuable, real-world experience that will help prepare you for your future career.
How do I find an internship?
First, check the Albertus Magnus catalog for courses from these departments that offer practica and internships:
-
Business Administration and Management
-
Communications
-
English
-
History and Political Science
-
Philosophy and Religion
-
Psychology
-
Sociology
-
Criminal Justice
-
Visual and Performing Arts
-
Biology and Physical Sciences
-
Inter-departmental
Check with the office for a list of local businesses that offer opportunities in your field, or look online. Forbes recently provided a list of the 10 Best Websites for Finding an Internship that may prove helpful. If there is a specific company you are interested in, visit that company’s website and click on the “career” page.
Some of the amazing internships Albertus students have experienced were with the Connecticut Sun, Disney and even Albertus Magnus College itself. The Albertus Practicum & Internship Office will be more than happy to partner with you in your search, and for more information on the process, visit here.
Career Fairs are another great way to look for an internship. Albertus Magnus College, for example, invites local businesses (big and small) to come to the school a couple of times per year to set up booths and share information about their companies with prospective employees. These events are the perfect place for you to “shop” around for an internship and actually have face-to-face time with the people who work there. Keep an eye out here for the next Albertus Career Fair.
When you do find an internship that interests you and it’s time to interview, be prepared. Dress professionally, put your best self forward and bring a portfolio featuring work you’ve done that will illustrate how you are perfect for the position. During the interview, you will be asked questions and also have the opportunity to ask questions. So be sure to ask them as bringing questions of your own will be an impressive demonstration of professionalism and preparedness. Also remember that an internship is a way to work toward your professional goals so you’ll want to make sure the company is a good fit for you rather than just vice versa.
Once you get the internship, remember that you were chosen for the position because of the skills and knowledge you can bring to the table. It’s perfectly natural to be nervous; however, if you do your best and follow these simple tips, there’s no limit on how successful you can be.
Now go out and show them what you can do!