A large misconception many college-aged students have is that it is easy to get a job right out of college related to your chosen major. The fact is, it’s not easy. In truth, very few college graduates are offered jobs in fields related to their majors right out of college, at least not without some major prep work beforehand. Even if you graduate from a top university with great grades, you’re still not guaranteed a job. Especially in this economy. More experienced candidates, who would normally be applying for higher level positions, are now also competing with fresh-faced college grads for the same entry-level jobs. However, one thing that can change the tide in your favor is the internship. This is the key to gaining real world experience and skills in your chosen profession that employers will be looking for. Whether paid or unpaid, an internship will give you the edge you are looking for.
Now, you may be thinking, “There is no way I am working 15-20 hours a week or more for free. How is being a gopher and running errands for people going to get me anywhere?” Well, think of it this way. No matter how small the task, whatever you end up doing is still giving you an inside look at the inner-workings of how the corporation is being run. It will give you an advantage of knowing how things work instead of having to start from scratch like some less experienced candidates. You may happen to be there that day the Magazine needs someone to help with a photo shoot and BOOM! Suddenly you have on-set experience. Or you may get the opportunity to write a blog for the company website. All those seemingly little things are the experiences future employers want to know about. Those are the things that will let you be able to say, “Yeah, I’ve worked on a set.” or, “Yes, I know how to update websites.” This is the extra little fluff that adds personality to your resume and distinguishes you from your competitors.
One of the other benefits of having an internship is networking. If you work hard and gain respect from the person directly in charge of your internship, they can be a valuable resource for your future. I am a firm believer in six degrees of separation. You would be very surprised to find out all the ways we are linked to each other. It will be the same way with the person interviewing you. He or she may know someone you worked for at your internship and that could be the slight edge you gain on an interview. At the very least, your former employer can write a very nice letter of recommendation. Something as small as that can be helpful in ways you never dreamed. It shows that you have kept a good working relationship with that person and, depending on what they say about you, states your strengths and proves that all the things you are saying about yourself are not just bogus ways to make yourself sound better.
Another thing to think about is interning for a company you want to work for someday. Starting our as an unpaid intern is a great way to get your foot in the door. Doesn’t it make sense that the company would want to hire someone who already knows the way things work? Some internships can lead to bigger, better positions within the company. My advice is to keep professional relationships with everyone you meet within the corporation. Even if it is only via email every couple of months after your internship ends. Remind them of who you are. Keep yourself in the front of their minds so that when you do go back for an interview, you don’t have to say, “Hi, yeah. My name is Kristin. I worked for you that one time. Remember? No? Oh, well...okay then.” Instead you can say, “HI! How are you? It’s so great to see you again. How have you been?” Sometimes a higher position will be offered to you before your internship is over. Whichever way it happens, or even if it doesn’t, appreciate the footing you have gained because it is substantial and will be helpful.
Whether you think it is worthwhile or not, there is no denying the advantages that having an internship will bring you. Especially in this economy and in these hard times, it’s important to do anything you can to be competitive in the workplace.
