The Importance of Internships in College By Ianni Le and Suzanne Shaffer
Many students start college unsure about what kind of career they want and the best path to get there. While coursework can help them figure this out, internships are also key. Students discover what they love through their classes, but there’s nothing like real-world experience to clarify what they’re looking for in a job. Prospective employers value internship experience, and internships often lead to an offer for a full-time position. With all the competition for jobs after graduation, your student can’t afford to ignore the importance of internships!
How Do Internships Work and Where Do Students Find Them? The purpose of an internship is to provide a meaningful learning opportunity for the student. Internships may be paid or unpaid and the student may or may not receive academic credit for them. Sometimes
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an internship connects very directly with a student’s college coursework. The company or organization also benefits because they can supplement their workforce with students, some of whom will eventually become permanent hires. Though internships may require the student to perform what might seem like menial tasks, those tasks help the student gather information about the job and/or industry — and are a practical reminder that we all start out on the ground floor.
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