Written & Published by Sacred Heart University
Experts share the benefits of internships and tips on how to get one
An internship is an invaluable experience. It is an opportunity for students to get relevant work experience to put on their résumés and apply classroom skills in a real-life setting. An internship also allows students to solidify whether they want to go into a specific field of work.
Sacred Heart University’s Center for Career & Professional Development provides support for students looking for internships and full-time positions. Heather Sabino, director, and Justin Triscari, assistant director for the career center in the WCBT, have advice for students as they look for and enter internship positions.
Benefits of an internship
Make connections in the professional world
Making connections is crucial to having a successful career. These are people you can rely on for advice, job references or even a job offer. Starting your career may be a challenge regarding finding desired positions and hearing back from companies, so having a network can help you navigate the job search process.
Decide if this is the right career for you
An internship is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your field temporarily. Whether you are shadowing someone or delegated a list of responsibilities at a company, an internship gives you a taste of what your day-to-day life would be like in the field. If you are not enjoying your work at your internship, it weeds out areas where you might not want to pursue full-time work.
“You may have an internship in social media marketing, for example, and you may also be doing a little bit of data research. You may realize you don’t care for the data research portion of the position, but you really love the social media aspect. This impacts your decision-making as you move forward in your career,” said Triscari.
Your internship may also help you decide whether you want to work fully in person, remotely or in a hybrid setting.
Learn professionalism
For many students, an internship is their first time working in a professional setting. Having proper workplace etiquette is essential to a successful career, and an internship gives you insight into what that entails. Here are some tips to being professional in the workplace:
- Learn the names of people in the office
- Dress appropriately
- Arrive on time (for the day and for meetings)
- Greet everyone
- Return phone calls or emails within 24 hours
- Learn when and where it is appropriate to use your cell phone
Internships can be a gateway to a full-time opportunity, so make sure you always act professionally.
Tips to getting an internship
Look at online job listings
Just as you would to apply for any other job, look at online job listing websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter. You can narrow down your search so it just lists part-time and internship positions.
Reach out to your network
Whether it be your classmates, professors or previous coworkers, ask if they know of any internship positions available in their organizations. If they have not heard of any open positions, they can potentially ask around and see if anyone is willing to take on an intern. Even if you are not delegated specific responsibilities, shadowing someone at the company is just as beneficial.
“Utilize your network because you never know who knows who or who has an opportunity,” said Triscari.
Reach out to companies you’re interested in
Not all open positions are listed online. If you are interested in working for a particular company, it never hurts to reach out to a hiring manager or the head of a department. Make sure to send them your résumé and a cover letter stating why you are interested in working for their company.
Start applying during sophomore or junior year
Sophomore or junior year is the sweet spot for an internship, but there is never a wrong time. For example, if you’re interested in working at one of the Big Four accounting firms after you graduate, there are timelines to be aware of to get your foot in the door. At other companies, there is no specific time that is better or worse to get an internship.
“If you’re getting an internship during your senior year, don’t tell an employer that you’re interested just because you need one. It is important to show interest in the company and position,” said Sabino.
Do you need help getting an internship?
Sacred Heart University’s Center for Career & Professional Development can assist you in your internship search by looking at your résumé and cover letter and helping you develop interview skills and strategies. They also have a platform called Pioneers Connect that allows you to reach out to SHU alumni directly to establish connections. To learn more about their services, contact them at careerdev@sacredheart.edu.
Read the article here https://www.sacredheart.edu/news-room/news-listing/why-should-i-get-an-internship/
