Five Things to Look for in an Internship
Posted: February 09, 2021 | Author: Kierstin Pitcher-Holloway | Read Time: 2 minutes
When searching for, applying to, and choosing between college internships it can help to know what to look for. Here are a few rules to live by when making your internship decisions.
New Skills
Perhaps one of the most important things an internship can offer is the chance to learn new skills and gain experience in your potential career field. It is expected that an internship position will come with training opportunities.
While keeping an eye out for these relevant positions, be aware of internships that are just looking for someone to fetch coffee, or go door to door selling their product. It’s typical for an internship to involve a little grunt work, but make sure that the job description also includes responsibilities and skills you are hoping to acquire in order to land your dream job.
Work Environment
Not all work environments are the same, so consider looking for internships that can expose you to different company cultures. Trying on different work environments is always a beneficial experience. If you enjoy the work environment, then you know what to look for in future career opportunities, if you dislike it then you know what to avoid. It’s a win-win situation.
Potential Income
Internship positions don’t always come with a paycheck, so for college students living on a tight budget potential income is often the deciding factor between internships. After all, any income is better than no income.
Jumpstart Your Career
Many organizations consider former interns for full-time positions over other applicants. When researching internships it helps to look for companies that anticipate hiring full-time staff in the near future, or have been known to hire interns in the past. These internship positions have the potential to jumpstart your career.
Resume Building
In addition to gaining skills, it is important to consider how an internship will look on a resume. If two internships are offering similar positions or skill training, think about which organization is most reputable.
A well-known organization is also preferable when building a resume. Adding organizations that potential employers will recognize is a great way to get a leg up in a competitive job market.
Sifting through numerous internship positions can be difficult. Whatever your career goals are, keeping these priorities in mind will help you find an internship that lets you soar to new heights.
Tags: Student Life
