County
Internships
As students begin to look at colleges, whether it is a two-year community college or a four-year institution, it is a good idea to ask about internship programs the school may have.
An internship is a chance to gain experience in the world of work before you graduate. It is an experience that allows you to apply the knowledge you've learned in the classroom to a work environment in your field of interest or major. Most colleges award academic credit for completing a successful internship, so a faculty member oversees the internship. Internships can be part-time (approximately 15 hours per week), while you take other classes, or full-time, particularly in the summer.
Some internships are paid, but this depends upon the sponsoring organization offering the internship.
If a college has a cooperative education program, these can be full-time placements rotating for either 3 or 6-month periods throughout the year, although some are part-time. Academic credit is often awarded in co-op programs as well, and usually they are paid. Whether you go to a college that has an internship program or a cooperative education program, the experience you will gain will be incredibly valuable and is often called "experiential education" or getting educated through experience.
How to evaluate or choose an internship:
It is important for students to apply to several internship possibilities,
as they can be competitive. Most internship sites want to see a student's
résumé and cover letter, as well as conduct an interview
for the internship, just like a job search. Preparation is key, so students
should read the internship description if available and research the organization's
web site. The best internships have clearly outlined duties, opportunities
for increasing responsibility, and a learning project as part of the experience.
Another key component to a successful internship is that the on-site supervisor of the intern is approachable and active in supervising. Many times an internship supervisor can become a mentor, which is a professional person who teaches you the ropes and helps you to succeed in the organization as you learn about communication and work place politics. Sometimes mentors can help you get a job at that same organization or can help you with contacts in similar organizations.
How an internship fits in with a course of study:
Some majors in college are more open to internships sites in various career
fields, based upon career interests. For instance, English or Communications
students may do internships in a variety of fields, like public relations
or advertising, book publishing, television or radio, non-profits, or
political campaigns. Other majors do internships more specific to that
major, such as Accounting students in Accounting firms or Art Therapy
majors in a hospital or educational setting.
Doing an internship (or two) will give college students an added advantage as they approach the job market for after-college career success.
Internships allow students...
- To get practical training & skills
- To see if a career field is a "good fit" or not (this can be helpful too!)
- To learn "insider" knowledge about a particular organization or career field
- To earn college credit while gaining career related experience
- To enhance a résumé with working world exposure
- To help you to talk more knowledgably about a career field, when you have future job interviews
- To begin building a network of professional contacts
- And sometimes a successful internship can lead to a job offer!
Some examples of where students have interned in Boston...
- Graphic Arts intern at ART New England Magazine
- Economics and Management intern at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MA
- Chemistry intern at Joslin Diabetes Center
- Speech and Communications intern at The New England Aquarium
- Psychology intern at Franciscan Children's Hospital
- Art Therapy intern at Germaine Lawrence
- Biology intern at Mass. General Hospital
- English and Communications intern at CM Communications
- Sociology intern at Roxbury District Court
- Spanish intern at Russell Elementary School
- Economics and Management intern at Merrill Lynch
- Marketing intern at Arnold Worldwide
- Psychology intern at National Organization for Women
- Political Science intern at MA Attorney General's Office
Editorial provided by Candice Serafino, Director of Internships and Career Development at Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.
