5 Reasons Why You Should Have An Internship In College

By Sarah Christine Davis on November 8, 2015

Whether you’re a college student or the parent of one, you probably hear this all the time: having an internship in college is important. This seems apparent; obviously, earning experience in your field as you prepare for a career sounds like a good idea.

However, what exactly is it about having an internship in college that’s so important? Why should college students try to get one?

The list of reasons is endless. However, I’ve cultivated five reasons why it is important for college students to have internships. Read on to learn more!

1. Increasing Global Competition

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In our competitive global economy, making yourself stand out as a potential employee is vital. An internship is a great way to achieve that.

A college student internship allows you to both create new skills and hone in on the skills you already have, making you a more competitive job candidate. The experience also allows you to bulk up your résumé.

In fact, according to Forbes, “what [college students] really need to do is get an internship. It turns out that may be the easiest way to secure a full-time gig.”

Basically, having an internship sets you aside as an individual with an edge among a whirlwind of job applicants. Having at least one internship on your résumé really can make all the difference in the world.

2. Networking Opportunities

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Internships are a fantastic opportunity for networking with people who are higher up in your desired field. Your peers and your boss can introduce you to interesting people who you never thought you’d get the chance to meet.

For example, with my current internship, I’ve been able to meet the editor-in-chief of Yahoo! Finance and be in contact with tons of inspiring faculty members at my university.

College View calls internships “the ultimate social network.” If you obsess over your social profile on websites like Instagram and Twitter, why not give some attention to your professional profile by getting an internship?

College View goes on to suggest the quality of the connections you can discover at a college student internship.

“Building a network of ‘who you knows’ through college student internships can pay great dividends upon graduation. By remembering the social aspect of making contacts with people as people while working at college internships, you can help ensure that … you will then have an ‘in’ at those organizations.”

As long as you keep up your performance at your internship, you will walk away with great connections and people who can get you in contact with even greater connections.

3. Potential Avenue to Your Dream Job

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The experience and networking opportunities provided by internships often lead to former interns climbing the corporate ladder at the same company where they interned.

According to Quint Careers, “95 percent of employers said candidate experience is a factor in hiring decisions, according to an annual survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly half of surveyed employers wanted new-grad experience to come from internships or co-op programs.”

Additionally, from the same survey done by NACE, more and more people are being hired at a company from previously being involved in that company’s internship program.

Furthermore, according to Forbes, “internships may be the easiest way to a job.”

This also means that if you have an unpaid college student internship now, you may be given a promotion to hold a better position at the company that will allow you to get paid. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

4. The Chance to Earning College Credit

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Many internships offer the opportunity for college credit, particularly if they aren’t paid. It’s like getting two birds with one stone. Additionally, an internship will likely take up an adequate amount of your time, and having one on top of your typical class schedule could get rough.

Additionally, many majors require students to hold an internship and get college credit for it. This forces you to gain experience to help you land a job, or at least an even better internship.

Quint Careers advises, “Many if not most colleges provide credit for eligible internships. Check with your faculty adviser or career-services office to see what your school’s or major-department’s policies are.”

5. Learning More About Your Interests

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These days, having an internship isn’t just retrieving coffee and donuts for the execs.

Holding an internship truly allows you to get your feet wet in a field that you’re interested in. Internships allow you to learn more about the specifics of a certain field and what specifically interests you about that field.

Additionally, they can help you realize that you’re not interested in that field at all before you start working in that field and realize that you hate it.

Overall, holding a college student internship is a great way to test drive your many interests.

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