Inter-wha?

Posted by in Career Advice



Back to school season is in full gear and for the first time you're not buying books or clothes or getting settled in your temporary 8 month home. Degree in hand you're standing in the real world... and feeling slightly unprepared to say the least. So whats the solution? How about an Internship?


“Well, I've heard of internships but aren't they all unpaid? I have bills to pay and would like to be able to eat.”



No! Not all internships are unpaid. Though you may make less then a hired on employee, you will also have the opportunity to learn more about the job and field you're in instead of just working one aspect of the job.


“But, I want a job. I don't want to have to look for an internship and then look for a job in 6 months.”



Employers offering internships are often looking for you! Many employers use internships to find perspective new employees. A 2009 NASC survey found that 67% of interns are offered a position within the company they interned for once the internship was over.


“Internships are just low paying slave labor so the company doesn't have to pay a real employee.”


Not at all. In fact U.S. federal law mandates that unpaid interns must not benefit the company economically and interns can not displace the work done by their paid employees. State by state the regulations regarding internships change, but they are for the protection of the employees and the interns.


“So I'm going to be making coffee and counting copies?”

Again, no. Internships are basically on-the-job training for new workers. There are also research internships where you would be examining a topic on behalf of a company and producing a study or presentation based on the information they find. These types of internships are more common however in the scientific or medical fields.



Internships are wonderful opportunities for both students and new workers, so while you're on the hunt for the perfect job don't discount the advantage of an internship experience.


By Jodi Sonoda


Jodi has been blogging for over 3 years, and is excited to currently be blogging with Nexxt for collegejobbank.com. She also has her own mini and micro biography writing business and creates unique fascinators in her spare time. She is attached to the internet at the hip and enjoys the constant connection. She spends most of her offline time playing dolls and reading picture books with her three year old. You can also occasionally find her rocking the mic at karaoke night.


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