Internships

An internship provides a short-term work experience in your chosen field of interest. It gives you a better understanding of the career and of yourself. Both you and the employer benefit from this experience.

Internships often take place during the summer months, but if your schedule permits, you may want to consider an internship during the academic year. Depending on the internship, you may have to leave school for a semester, but it may be worthwhile to gain the experience. Generally, Competition for internships during the school year is less intense.

No two internships are alike. They can be found in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Internships may be paid or unpaid positions. Depending on your situation, you may consider an unpaid internship to gain the experience an internship can offer. After all, the goal is to learn, not earn!

Why do I need an Internship?

An internship provides a unique opportunity for you gain practical experience in a professional environment. Courses come to life as you apply classroom theory to real-world problem. Research shows that approximately fifty percent of recently- hired college graduates have pre-professional experiences related to their career. A national survey reports that "employers continue to request actual on-the-job experiences from new college graduates, and individuals with these experience are granted more job offers." A good internship will help you: · gain work experience prior to graduation · develop personal strengths and improve on weakness.

· narrow your career focus
· build a stronger resume
· obtain first-hand knowledge of your chosen field
· learn how professionals contacts
· build a network of professional contacts
· determine if you really like this field
· gain in-depth knowledge of a potential employer

Internships not only benefits students, but they also help employers.
Companies hire interns to:
· relieve staff workload
· provide fresh approach and new ideas
· demonstrate prospective employees
· identify prospective employees
· obtain low-cost, enthusiastic, and motivated workers

Internships benefit everyone involved. The student obtains experience valuable in finding meaningful employment after graduation, and the employer gains an enthusiastic employee.

How do I get an internship?

Before you search for an internship, you must decided what you want to do. Companies prefer goal-oriented students with definite career plans. Once you define your career, goal, you will be able to search for an internship that best suits your needs.
The process for getting an internship is similar to the process for getting a job. The skills learned in obtaining an internship will be used again in your full-time job search. There are many avenues through which you can find information about internships. The University of Illinois provides numerous resources to help students locate a quality internship.

Careers Center/Placement Office provide Annual Reports, videos and general promotional material on organizations. Students have access to volumes of materials that describe cover letters, resumes, and interviews. These are crucial elements to getting an internship.

On-Campus Interviews are a well-known avenue to full-time employment, but they also offer students the opportunity to discuss internships with company representatives. Consult your college placement office for interview scheduling.

Job Fairs present an opportunity to make contact with companies who may offer internships.