For college students, there are few things more terrifying and more important than obtaining an internship. Internships are one of the most dreaded events of many students' college careers for several reasons. First of all, most of the internships offered to students who have not yet earned their degrees demand the same hours as a regular job, without any of the pay that comes with a job. If you are lucky, you will find the rare opportunity to make some money while you are learning the skills you will need to use in the field you choose, but there is no guarantee. Along with the lack of pay, internships, when used for course credit, require you to pay for it as you would with a normal course. Despite this fact, an internship will be worth every bit of stress and every penny lost because you will gain the kind of experience you simply cannot get anywhere else.
When employers are reviewing their candidates, one of the things that stands out among all others is internship experience. The right major, good grades, wonderful letters of recommendation, and some of the best connections still don't look quite as good as a few internships at the right places. This type of work helps you earn experience that will be invaluable to you. The skills that are developed during an internship are absolutely essential when it comes to finding your place out in the real working world.
Along with this, there is of course the chance to earn some credit. As mentioned before, taking this route generally requires you to pay; however, it is almost certainly worth it in the end. In many cases, universities will allow you to earn a variety of different amounts of credit depending on how many hours you work per week. Therefore, you are able to tailor your experience in a way that will best fit your needs. Being able to earn credit toward your major while learning valuable skills feels a lot better than spending all day in a classroom.
Another benefit of an internship is the networking potential. Yes, everyone in college is constantly telling you how important it is to "network," but honestly, it really is true. The people you meet at your internships could very possibly become the people you work for immediately after graduation, or they could become a contact that can offer you a job down the road, or they may simply be a reference that stands out a bit more than the others. No matter what connections you gain from your internship, chances are good they will be of use to you.
Finally, a good internship can help build your confidence in your field and in being a working professional in general. There will be bumps along the way, that is almost certain, but you will survive it, and when you do you will have gained the confidence you need to continue on with the job you chose. While not every internship is perfect, and although it can be terrifying when you first start out, internships are unbelievably important for students and graduates. What you will gain from internships is invaluable.
