The Value of Internships

The Value of Internships

I believe Internships can be extremely valuable for both high school and college students. They provide valuable learning experiences that can help shape students' careers. An internship gives students the opportunity to pursue academic interests, and feel out what they like in the professional world. Internships give you the chance to expand your resume, and gain experience that you can talk about in future interviews. As a college student entering their fourth year, I have learned the most about myself through the various internships I have worked at.

When to start Applying 

The truth is that internships can be extremely competitive, given how valuable they are. I remember applying to around 70 different internships this past year with only a couple interviews, so it’s important to get started early! Now, high school internships are not as common as college Internships, but they can help tremendously especially with admission chances at the colleges you apply to. It's a good idea to apply about 3-5 months before you intend to start your internship. In my high school years I found Sophomore and Junior year are probably the best years to pursue an internship. 

For college students, I found internships seem to be more expected. This means more opportunities, but also more competition. In college, most people get internships sophomore or junior year, but an internship freshman year is definitely not out of the picture. It's a good idea to start researching, and targeting companies the summer before the year you plan on applying. Some applications open as early as September for Summer opportunities. It is important to research when the companies you are interested in have their applications because every company is different. 

Some companies recruit heavily in the fall/end of the year for their summer interns, and other companies recruit in the start of the spring semester. Getting a head start at looking for internships I found helped me navigate the applications more efficiently. 

Career Fair

Career fairs can be hugely beneficial to not only help find you an internship, but also gain connections, and insight from business leaders. I personally have made many connections with different recruiters at career fairs, and look forward to going back to them. There is usually a fall and spring career fair in colleges, and many times they are separated by major/industry. That is why it is vital to do research in advance and begin reviewing what companies you would be interested in the summer prior.

Remember! It is important to dress professionally in business attire. Wear a button down shirt, with dress pants. Look sharp, and stay focused, first impressions matter!