October 5, 2009
"My program requires an internship. I'm going to wait to get one until I complete my junior year when I have a lot of my core courses under my belt and can make a stronger contribution to the company; is this okay?"
Many first and second year students are under the impression that since they are not required to intern, they shouldn't worry themselves about it. They're wrong. Students should begin seeking internships for the following reasons:
- To gain experience and learn what it's really like to work in the field.
- To learn what it's like to work in and for different companies. Each company has its own unique culture. One culture may be more of a fit for you than another but if you've only worked for one company, there's no way to compare.
- To learn if this career is really what you want. You may have always thought you wanted to do 'this' whatever 'this' is, but until you actually work in the field, you're only thinking it rather than knowing it.
- To begin developing your professional network.
What should you do? How do you begin?
- Start researching internship opportunities during your first year. Use every resource available â€" your career services office, professors, friends, and especially company websites.
- Apply for jobs that interest you. Apply even if you're not 100% you want the job; you can't possibly know until you interview.
- Don't get hung up on where the job is; many companies offer relocation assistance if not complete relocation and the time to explore living in different locations is while you're a student. Some large conglomerates even offer housing as part of their internship package.
- Don't burn bridges. What may not work out this year may turn out to be a perfect opportunity next year! Staying in touch facilitates that. Remember to use your best manners in your job search.