Wonder what it would be like to spend a summer writing for the next Emmy-winning television series? What about going behind the scenes with the Secret Service? Or maybe you'd like to interview rock stars or hanging out with the Dallas Cowboys. These aren't foolish pipe dreams, but rather actual opportunities that exist for people just like you.
Internships are more than fetching coffee. The best positions are those that enable you to work on independent projects, as well as observe and learn from your bosses and colleagues. Here's how you can take advantage of these great programs.
WHO CAN DO AN INTERNSHIP? Just about anyone who wants to explore and gain experience in a career field can be an intern. Companies most often hire high school students, college students, and recent college graduates for internships, as those are who usually look to learn about different industries-and to build their resumes.
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP? An internship is a supervised work experience in which you can be exposed to and trained in a particular field. What separates an internship from most other types of part-time jobs is the learning involved. You'll put in long hours and hard work for an organization (sometimes for no or little pay) in exchange for experience, training and knowledge that will help your job search later.
WHEN CAN YOU DO AN INTERNSHIP? Believe it or not, you can find an internship year-round. Generally, the summer is an ideal and popular time for an internship, because most students are taking a break from their academics and can therefore dedicate their time to a job. However, interning during the school year can be useful as well. Because many students seek internships during the summer months, spots may be limited. Fewer students apply during the fall and spring, so you might not have as much competition then if you're available to work.
WHERE CAN YOU DO AN INTERNSHIP? The possibilities are endless. Positions range from telemarketing for the Chicago Bulls and testing software for Microsoft to writing for Rolling Stone Magazine and working in national wildlife refuges through the Student Conservation Association. Think about the career fields and organizations that interest you the most. Have you always wanted to work for NASA, the San Diego Zoo, or Coca-Cola? Contact them or check out their website; chances are they offer an internship.
WHY DO AN INTERNSHIP? There are many benefits to doing an internship. Aside from the personal advantages, such as it is almost a prerequisite these days to launch a career in most industries. Here are some of the reasons to consider becoming an intern.
ACCESSING YOUR CAREER PREFERENCES Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? Most of us don't have a clue! You may have certain ideas about some of your likes, dislikes, and areas of interest, but that is only the beginning. Nothing can show you what different jobs entail and how they fit with your skills, interests, and values like actually going out and trying them for yourself. Whether your experience is positive or negative, it will be invaluable in providing you with concrete information about your preferences to guide your career-making process.
As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Alyssa Kant originally wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy. However, after a summer interning in a hospital's out-patient ward, Kant realized physical therapy was not the field for her. "There were many areas of the occupation that did not interest me or suit my personality very well," says Kant, now 23. "After that experience, I began to rethink my career goals and started to take more psychology and education courses."
This put Alyssa on the road to a new path to becoming a school psychologist. An internship as a teacher's assistant in a special education setting and one as a mentor for at-risk students helped her move toward her goal. "These internships counseling children and adolescents confirmed my future career plans," she says. Today, Kant is a graduate student at New York University in New York City, pursuing her dream of becoming a psychologist.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE Being in school is great. Sure, you have homework and exams, but you also have short days with summers off and time to hang out with friends. The working world is a different game with its own set of rules and expectations. The sooner you become part of a company, the better you'll be able to adjust to the responsibilities of having a "real job." Consider it a crash-course in your career, one that won't likely be a part of your academic curriculum, but will prove just as useful.
After her freshman year at Barnard College in New York, NY, Sabrina Rojas Weiss interned at The Ledger, a New York Times regional newspaper in her hometown of Lakeland, FL. It was a great forum for which the English major could write features and work closely with editors. This position led to a strong interest in writing and to further internships at magazines, such as Mirabella and Shout.
Now, right out of college at 22, Sabrina is the Associate Editor for Manhattan and Manhattan Bride magazines. "I'm drawing on all my past experience to do my current job," Rojas Weiss explains. "When I first started, they expected me to jump right in. Without internships, I would have been terrified to go out and interview people. But instead, I had more confidence in my skills."
BUILDING YOUR RESUME Internships will do wonders for your resume, too. Whether your ultimate goal is to work in marketing, advertising, law or entertainment, employers wonder why they should hire you. An internship proves that you have the experience and skills needed for success on the job. Furthermore, the people that you meet during your internship can be valuable contacts when you are seeking full-time employment later. If you have done a good job and developed positive relationships with your supervisors, they may help you secure a position in the future.
Zach Lieberman decided to use the summer between his junior and senior years at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to gain exposure to the gaming industry. He was selected for a 10-week rotating program through the Argosy Corporation, which runs a riverboat casino in Kansas City, Mo. "This internship provided me with insight into one of the most exciting industries in business," Lieberman, 25, says.
After graduating, Mirage Resorts, Inc. in Las Vegas hired Lieberman for their management associate program. Only 22 of more than 600 applicants were chosen for this highly selective program in 1996. Lieberman's prior experience helped him stand out from the crowd. "I met with the Director of Human Resources when I was visiting Las Vegas during a family vacation," he says. "I didn't know it at the time, but they actually interviewed me for a slot because of my internship the year before."
HOW CAN YOU GET AN INTERNSHIP? Multiple resources are out there to assist you with your search for the perfect internship. First, check out your high school's guidance office or college career center. Places such as these often keep listings from local companies and organizations that are specifically looking to hire their students. Additionally, there are numerous websites and books specifically dedicated to the internship search.
Finally, if your dream job is out there, don't hesitate to call up a company out of the blue and ask if they hire interns. Many are receptive to the idea though they might not have advertised the positions. A little persistence can lead to the experience of a lifetime.
BRINGING IN THE DOUGH While there are plenty of paid internships available, there are also a significant number of unpaid opportunities. Many organizations just don't have the funding for interns, though they are open to having unpaid volunteers spend time in their office to learn the ropes. If possible, don't let finances determine what internship will be the best one for you. If your ideal job pays well, that's just an added bonus. If it doesn't, combine an unpaid internship with a paid part-time job, such as waiting tables. Employers who aren't able to compensate their interns generally understand about requests for flexible hours. They may even offer other perks such as academic credit in return for a job well done.
