Internships: Finding Your Way in the World of Work
Nonprofit Organizations
Volunteering
Government
Summer Positions
What is an internship?
An internship is a structured work experience that is linked academically.
Internships may be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time. Students can do
internships during the summer, winter term, or even during the academic year.
Why do an internship?
Internships are valuable opportunities to relate
your academic studies to the world of work. Internships allow students to
see how their liberal arts skills (such as writing, researching,
problem-solving, etc.) apply in work situations. Internships allow
students to test their assumptions about workplaces and their own skills and
values. An internship can help you to:
Put to use skills you have acquired, develop
new skills, and identify areas for further development.
Discover how your academic preparation and theories you have learned in classes apply to a
work setting.
Gather information about career areas that are of interest to you. Internships are a
critical component of career exploration. In internship may help you
discover whether or not you really would like to pursue a career in a given
field. Internships can also help you build a network of professionals
to whom you can turn for advice about future career opportunities.
Gain valuable work experience. More and more employers look for internship experience
when hiring for entry-level positions.
Become experienced in the job search process. You'll use the same steps you learn in
applying for internships when it comes time to apply for jobs in the future.
