Demographics of those applying for coveted internship spots have changed over the years, with high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores all vying for positions historically reserved for college juniors and seniors, or graduate students. With all of these new candidates in the mix, employers are rethinking recruitment strategies.
The Basics of a Summer Internship
Summer internships can run anywhere from eight to twelve weeks long and follow school semesters. Depending on when the student gets out of school, a summer internship usually starts in May or June and continues through August. The most common timeframe for summer internships is to begin right after Memorial Day and run through the first week of August.
Benefits of an Internship Beyond Experience
Internship opportunities offer several benefits beyond gaining full or part-time work experience. Some internships are paid, and many provide school credit, although each school has different policies regarding internship credit.
The Purpose of Pursuing an Internship
Internships provide students with hands-on learning experience as they gain a glimpse into the real world, giving them a front-row seat to a potential career choice. They go into the internship thinking they want to work at a specific company or in a specific industry and come out of the internship either having confirmed those thoughts or having decided to pursue something completely different. Not only do students who participate in summer internships get hands-on learning experience, but they’re also building their resumes. The number one question asked at job interviews after college is “Where did you intern?” It’s a good idea to have a ready answer to that question in order to stand out from the pool of other applicants. Internships also provide networking opportunities. Most college students don’t have a professional network. Internships change that. Students leave internships with a Rolodex of professional contacts who can help them gain future employment, whether by serving as a reference or by alerting them to job opportunities. A summer internship stands out on a student’s resume and is among one of the best things a young person can do to prepare for the real world and college graduation.
