Though an internship often means trading time from possible paid employment to working for little or no pay, internship benefits reach far beyond a paycheck. Many more people apply to a position than gain an interview, let alone employment. Internships provide college students, recent graduates or those seeking a career change with tools to apply theory to practice and prepare for the job market.
Gain valuable experience for your resume as an internship benefit. Experience in the field is a crucial aspect of what makes a candidate employable, especially if there is a saturated job market. This experience sets you apart from other entry-level professionals. Research shows that companies desire applicants with related work experience more than applicants from a particular college. The more you already know, the less a company invests in your initial training.
Another internship benefit is the opportunity to discover new career paths. Your career is a significantly long part of your life, and an internship allows you to get an insider’s view of a range of jobs within a field. Interns often work with multiple departments or supervisors to gain a general understanding of the field. If the field is not what you thought, it is much easier to end an internship than find a new career path once you are in the job market. You can reap this internship benefit even if you do not have a career goal in mind, as internships help you survey possible opportunities.
An internship also helps you develop new skills and strengthen confidence. Throughout the internship experience, supervisors provide feedback on your work. This gives you ample opportunities to assess your skill development and hone in on your weaknesses. Concentrate on skills unique to the field and general skills that serve in any professional environment, such as communication skills and office etiquette. Volunteer for additional projects to gain proficiency in even more areas. Skill development strengthens your confidence as you conquer new projects.
One of the most notable internship benefits is the ability to network with industry professionals and peers. Internships force you to interact with industry leaders. These professionals have contacts that serve as recommendations for jobs after an internship. Get even more out of your internship by finding a leader to serve as a mentor. Connect with fellow interns or past interns while in your position. They often have insight for doing well as an intern, plus they are the future generation of industry leaders.
Make the decision to test the waters of a particular field while gaining exposure to new skills and new people with an internship. Internship benefits outweigh the loss of income for many, and an internship experience is an investment in your future. Approach your internship as a paid job and hold high professional standards to get the most out of your experience.
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