As the summer is fast approaching I am getting ready for the internship of a lifetime. I will have the privilege of working for a well-known PR company in London, UK, gaining not only experience but also understanding of my chosen industry. I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity. However, as I am gathering all the necessary components for my trip, I started thinking – internships aren't really talked about amongst college students.
Sure it's a word we're all familiar with, but most of us don't know much more beyond that. An internship is probably the single most important thing you'll do during your 4+ years at college, and getting a jumpstart on it will only bring you success in the future.
So, why am I on a soapbox about the value of internships? Three simple reasons…
They get you where you want to go. Most people I talk to say they received job offers after graduation from a company they had previously interned for. If you do a good job during your internship, chances are the company will either ask you back to intern again or hire you on the spot. Having completed an internship means that not only do you know their system and day-to-day operations, but you've also proven yourself to be a good employee. Employers want to know they are hiring someone who is reliable and a hard worker, and internships provide them with a snapshot of how you conduct yourself on the job. But, this means you CANNOT f@$% around on the job. If you do, I can promise that you'll never hear from your dream company again.
They build your resume with real world experience. If you are a college student, you know the hardest part of interviews and job applications is providing work experience. Of course there are occasional on-campus opportunities for you to get some practice in, but they are few and fleeting. There will always be another potential internship, and frankly the more the merrier! You can never have too much experience, and being able to put on your resume that you have worked for an actual company in an actual industry is a big deal. Even if you have to start with an unpaid internship at a relatively small company, it looks better than having a ton of white space on your CV. It says you're trying. Is a cruel reality, but that diploma will only get you so far once you graduate, kids.
The networking opportunities are limitless. You never know whom you might be talking to and whom they might know. Sadly, we're only human, and we can't do everything on our own. Sometimes we need help getting our foot further in the door, and there are people who are higher up with more connections than you could ever dream of having access to. If they know you to be a good worker and a genuinely nice person, they are more likely to help you with getting ahead in your career. One connection can lead to another, and before you know you'll have opened the door to millions of possibilities. Who knows, maybe one day it will be you who is helping a new intern get one step closer to their goal.
