Internship Basics

With the economy increasingly unstable, internships are becoming more important than ever.

Many college graduates are having an increasingly difficult time locating employment within six months after finishing school. Yet entry-level hiring is projected to increase in 2008.

So what gives? Employers are looking for new grads, but really want those with internships under their belts — leaving the others at a distinct disadvantage. “More than 62% of new college hires have internship experience, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and employers offer full-time jobs to nearly two out of three interns” (source: Recruiting Trends).

So . . . clearly participating in an internship program can make you much more marketable. But with more students interning now, how can you get a step above the rest?

More Time

For starters, longer internships are better than the typical six-week programs. Not only are will you gain more experience from interning for an extended period of time, but employers are also more likely to take notice.

Even a week or two extra can make a difference when an employer is comparing you to someone who only participated in a six-week program. Although these longer internship programs will take more of your time, they can easily result in a better position or higher paycheck after graduation.

More Internships

Another option you have is to do more than one internship. You may have to get started earlier in your college career to be able to find time for more than one internship program, but this course of action certainly makes an impression on employers.

To achieve this, you will either have to set aside multiple summers for interning or make use of programs that are offered during the spring and fall.

There are also shorter programs or project-specific internships that can be added to your resume for an extra edge over the competition.

Well-Selected Internships

Of course, interning with a larger, more notable company can have more prestige than doing so with a smaller, locally owned business. Despite this, smaller places of employment shouldn’t be overlooked.

In some cases, these businesses may give an intern more responsibility due to smaller staff numbers.

In order to make wise internship decisions, you will have to analyze the job listings in question. In the end, you will have to choose which program you feel will offer you the most job experience in the field you hope to enter after graduation.

For lots more information, check out the internship books here, in George’s collection (still under development).

And don’t forget to take full advantage of your school’s career and internship services staff. You may even be able to get funding for an otherwise unpaid internship.