When looking for prospective careers, college students often overlook one very important piece of the puzzle: internships. Internships are usually short-term, unpaid positions at a company or business that is related to a student’s field of study and/or career plan.Some internships are paid positions, and others can be used for college credit. Internships can be as short as a month and as long as two years.
Internships can take place in any work or service setting, and they do not necessarily need to be related to the student’s major or field of study.
Students can also work in more than one internship position, and go into the internship with little or no experience.While the company that runs the internship may offer full-time positions to college graduates who have interned with them, this is not guaranteed. However, the experience that is gained from the internships can be taken into any other position at another company.
Internships look great on a resume, as they show that the applicant has some real world experience in their chosen field, and will require less training time. Internship supervisors can also be used as key references and sources during the job search after graduation.
Tanya Baird, the internship coordinator at the CSU-Pueblo Career Center, is focused on helping educate students on the importance of internships, as well as assist them with getting one.
Baird said that college students should begin looking for internships three semesters before they want to intern, although it is not impossible to get an internship in a shorter period of time. While students usually do their internships during their junior or senior year, internships can be done earlier, or even after graduation. According to Baird, internships are important because 74 percent of employers prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience.
On average, employers convert 53 percent of their interns to full-time hires, and nearly 83 percent of employers offer internships.
Baird also recommends several steps that students should take before they begin applying for internships. Baird said that students should first meet with her, as well as their faculty advisor, to discuss their goals and plans.
A professional resume is key to getting an internship. Baird said that although employers do not expect students to have all the skills needed to perform their job right away, but they do expect students to exhibit professionalism, and a good resume and interview skills are important to have when beginning the search process.The Career Center can help students update their resumes, which Baird emphasizes as one of the next steps to getting an internship. The Career Center can then post student resumes on the Career T-Wolves career services system.
These posted resumes are viewed by potential employers, who streamline their hiring process by using the Web site to review students who are available for internships or full-time employment. The Career Center can also help students gain interview skills, as well as learning how to dress professionally for the interview and job position. Students can also potentially receive academic credit for the internship, as long as they clear the internship with their faculty advisor.
Baird said it is important for students to have their priorities in order before they go apply for an internship, and have a clear idea of what sort of time commitment they are willing to make to the internship. Figuring out where and when they would like to intern is ultimately up to the student, but Baird said the Career Center is here to help them down the road to success.“Our number one goal is for the students and employer to have a successful experience, and planning is important in the process.” Baird said.
Moving from the classroom to the cubicle can be a difficult transition, but internships can make that move more easy and convenient for both students and prospective employers. To post your resume on the Career Center Web site, go to: www.myinterfase.com/colostate-pueblo/student/.