For college students, there is no better way to “test-drive” careers of interest than to experience them firsthand through an internship or volunteering. Internships serve as the deepest level of career exploration, where you can sample or experiences careers of interest for a substantial period of time. An internship or volunteer experience also provides a college student with that much needed “real-world” business experience that supplements in-class learning.
In addition, internships and volunteering serve as THE networking vehicles for college students and may even lead to a job upon graduation. Networking continues to be the best job search method with an estimated 70-80 percent of all jobs acquired through some form of networking. Students who spend a few months with a company naturally build numerous relationships with supervisors and co-workers there who later turn into invaluable networking contacts. In addition, there is a growing movement among employers to utilize internship programs as a recruitment tool to identify qualified candidates for their entry level positions!
Internships come in all shapes and sizes. Some internships are paid; some are unpaid/ voluntary. Some internships receive academic credit and are coordinated through your academic department, while others don’t receive credit and are independent of the curriculum. The length and duration of internships vary as well. The important thing is that the internship is a step forward in conjunction with your long-range academic plan. You should talk with your academic advisor to determine the most appropriate type of internship for you.
The Career Services Office can help identify prospective internship sites and opportunities to volunteer. Among other resources, be sure to attend our career fairs sponsored here at Penn State Harrisburg and at other university locations. And don’t be shy about networking with your own contacts (family and friends) to help expand your list of potential intern sites.
(Adapted with permission from Bob Orndorff, Associate Director of Career Services at UP)