Press "Enter" to skip to content

Internships: When and How?

In our current economy, finding a job comes down to one thing: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I am sure many of you have heard this saying before and it is very disconcerting. However, there are things you can do to enhance your chances of getting that fabulous career you’ve always dreamed of. Although times are tough and getting a job is especially hard for our generation, it is still possible to land that great internship. Showing that extra effort will also show perseverance and dedication, which is something employers love to see. The first step to the career you’ve always wanted is getting yourself into the field, which can all being with an internship.

According to  www.quintcareers.com, “Internships help you better understand your field, help cement (or at times change) your career goals, and give you the experience employers demand – even of college graduates.” However, before even getting an internship students have many questions and concerns. Lucky for us students, C.W. Post has a department dedicated to helping us out. That department is called Academic and Career Counseling, located right in Kumble Hall. Once some research is done about what type of internship you may want to obtain, a visit with an advisor may help point you in the right direction.

Still, there are certain things you may want to consider beforehand. For example, would you be willing to take an internship that will provide you with beneficial experience but no paycheck? Or are you only interested in a paid job? There are also some other helpful things you may want to do before finding that perfect internship. First and foremost, make a list of companies you would enjoy working for and check out their websites to see if they offer internship opportunities. You may also want to attend a career/internship fair, which is often held at Hillwood Commons, and start working on an appealing resume. You should also see if it is possible to obtain college credit for internships, and even more importantly see if the internships require that you receive college credit for them. Last but not least, network! Networking is a sure way to get your name out there and it will help you out immensely in the long run.

Now that you know how to get an internship, the question is, when is the right time? Internships are only there to provide you with valuable experience so it is never too early to be a part of one. Having an internship will also allow you to get a feel for the different possible jobs in your desired field. That is especially helpful to students who enjoy their selected field but aren’t too sure of what they can do with it in the future. Although most majors require internships during senior year, getting one before then will only help you out. You will be given the chance to find out what you’re most interested in and more importantly, to network! A good place to start looking for an internship is the Internet; a website like http://www.internships.comcould be a great help. Now go and start searching for an internship and get some experience how life is in the real world. Good luck!

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *