You may hear your friends, peers, or professors talking about internships and their value while you explore your field of study in college. But what exactly is an internship? An internship is a temporary, paid or unpaid, position offered by an organization to students or recent graduates. It provides practical experience in a particular field or industry, allowing interns to apply theoretical knowledge from their studies in a real-world setting. Internships can vary in duration, ranging from a few weeks to several months, and can be part-time or full-time. They are designed to help students gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills, and build a network of industry contacts.
Internships are crucial to consider on your path to graduation as they offer a glimpse into what you can expect at the start of your career. But why is this so important? Your internship can lead to opportunities and insights you might not otherwise experience or it will at least expedite your discovery process during your transformative college years.
Discovering Your Preferences Through Internship Experiences
Internships provide invaluable learning opportunities about what you enjoy and what you might want to avoid in your future career. Here are some key areas you will learn about:
Day-to-Day Tasks: Internships help you understand the daily responsibilities of a particular role. You may discover through this that you either enjoy the tasks, or you may realize this role does not suit your interests. For instance, if you are a marketing major and your internship involves content creation, you might enjoy doing this work. Moving forward, you may schedule your college classes in a way to focus on social media and creative marketing classes. A different example is if you are in an HR internship because you are studying business management with an HR track. If you are unhappy with the day-to-day tasks, then this may be an instance where you switch your major because HR might not be what you expected it to be in the workforce.
Company Culture: Experiencing different company cultures helps you determine the type of work environment where you thrive. An internship gives you firsthand insight into a company’s values, communication styles, and overall atmosphere. Whether you prefer a collaborative, fast-paced environment or a more structured, traditional setting, understanding your cultural preferences will guide you in future job searches and boost your confidence in your first post-grad job.
Skill Development: Regardless of the specifics of the internship, you will gain valuable skills. These might include technical skills relevant to your field, as well as soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills not only enhance your resume, but also shape your mindset in your core classes as you learn the real-world application of the topics taught in the classroom. Understanding how your role fits into the larger goals of the business will give context to what your professors teach.
Professional Networking: Internships are also a great way to build your professional network. Depending on the company's size and scale, you may have opportunities to interact with seasoned executives and other professionals. Building these connections allows you to learn from successful individuals in your field and opens doors for future opportunities. Use this opportunity to learn from as many people as you can.
Your internship experience can be a powerfully transformative tool that can help shape the rest of your time in college. Whether that be to hone in on your current field of study or change your major to better suit your personality and skills; learning these things about yourself early gives you plenty of time to figure the path that is right for you and what will truly fulfill you in your career. It’s best to learn these things now rather than upon graduation in the start of your career.