by Kizzy Preston
When I first graduated from college I thought, “O. K. great. I have my B.A. in English – bring on the writing/editing jobs!” But as I researched the position I really wanted, I saw that I was lacking one very vital thing: experience. In spite of it having always been my dream, all of my work history had been in the banking and business world. I didn’t have any recent or tangible experience in a field where writers and editors are needed.
This could have been avoided if I had done one simple thing… completed an internship. Internships are where you, the student, work for a company— usually without monetary compensation— but you are paid in experience and sometimes college credit. You work the job as if you are a paid employee of the company and gain hands-on experience. It is there you develop the skills you need to land that first position in your field.
Many companies look favorably on internships and see them as real life experience that cannot be obtained in a classroom. In ”“Why Are Internships So Important?” Melissa Benca, director of career services at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City said, “Internships have become key in today’s economy. Graduating students with paid or unpaid internships on their résumé have a much better chance at landing a full-time position upon graduation. Students are doing internships as undergraduates, and it is now not unusual for recent grads to take an unpaid internship with hopes of turning it into a permanent position, or at least making some contacts and building their résumé.”
Adults Need Internships Too
Adults often have to balance college courses with a full-time job, home and family obligations. If you are attending college to prepare for a career change, then it is important that you find a way to complete an internship in your newly chosen field. Having the degree alone is usually not enough to successfully change careers. Companies want to see that you have tangible experience before they will hire you. Some companies are willing to let students intern on the weekends, or on a flexible schedule. You could also look into volunteering with an organization to gain the skills and experience that would make you more marketable. Some degree programs require the completion of an internship, but most do not. It is up to the student to make sure that they gain as much real world experience as possible before graduation.
A lot of college programs imply that once the student has completed their degree, they will be able to become whatever they dreamed of becoming. The truth of the matter is, without real world experience adult learners find it difficult to obtain what is promised. Instead they find that no one is willing to take a chance on them due to their lack of experience.
The idea of working for “free” may be a turn off to the adult who has spent many years in the workforce. Not all internships are unpaid. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 93 percent of employers planned to hire students for internship programs. Most companies said that they would pay their interns. Whether the internship is paid or unpaid, it is necessary. In order to compete with other, younger students who are also completing the same degree, adults need hands-on experience. Some adults go back to school to obtain a degree so that they can advance in their current company. For them an internship may not be required. If, however, they want to completely change careers, then it would be in their best interest to find and complete an internship.
Students often land paying jobs with the companies that hire them as interns. In the article, “Internships Lead to Jobs, ” Roberta Campbell at Guidant Corporation discussed the many advantages interns had in the competition for employment. “Because we look at internships as a chance for an extended interview, ” she said, “Interns really get the opportunity to show us what they have to offer the company. They have great opportunities to network here. They also have the opportunity to get to know the company culture and see if it’s a good fit for them.”
The NACE student survey found that nearly 50 percent of graduating seniors who had internship experience received at least one job offer. Only 30.7 percent of students without internship experience who applied for jobs received an offer. The study also found that those who had an internship were more likely to accept the offer—and have a job to go to following graduation.
Places to Look for Internships
– Your school’s career office. This is a great place to be matched with internship opportunities. The school’s career office usually provides help with résumés and cover letters as well. As an adult student interested in changing careers, perhaps you could use assistance in making the skills on your current résumé target your new job market.
– In the local newspaper. Mixed in with paying jobs there are always listings for internship and volunteer opportunities.
– Any search engine. Simply type in the word “internships”, and the city (or county) you live in and numerous websites will pop up to help you with your search.
– College/scholarship sites. There are numerous websites devoted to helping college students find scholarships, and also internship opportunities. Simply complete a profile on the website of your choice, and answer questions about your interests. You will then be linked to internships that match your goals and skill level.
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A shorter version of this article originally appeared on Fastweb.com in November 2011.
Kizzy graduated with a B.A. in English Language and Literature at the age of 31, and has received a Master’s degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University . Now she is passionate about helping other students achieve their goals. She maintains a blog, Second Chance, that offers encouragement to motivate people of every age. Kizzy is also a contributing writer for Fastweb.
See also, Internships and Enhancing Education: The Benefits of Service Learning.
