Internships

This week, we had the opportunity to interview Sarah Barber, Lisa Collins, and Jamie Marsh in the Business Career Center to talk about internships. According to Sarah, internships give students the opportunity to gain experience in a career area that they are interested in. It also allows students, to receive new training and develop skills that will put them at an advantage for full time employment positions.

Students can either do a summer or a semester internship. However, Linda Collins says that the downside to a semester internship is that it may delay your graduation and you would not be covered by your parent’s insurance during that semester. The upside to a semester internship is that you could have more opportunities to work for a company for a longer period of time. For example, you could intern during the spring semester in addition to the summer.

Many students wonder if it is better to work for a smaller or larger company. According to Sarah Barber, it really depends on your situation. Advantages to working for a smaller company include more exposure to senior management and possibly more responsibility provided based on your performance. One advantage to working for a larger company are a well-known name to have on your resume. Additionally, many larger companies have a structured internship program that is specifically designed to give you technical training in its industry.

Once a student receives an internship, it is important for them to take into consideration housing, transportation, and living expenses. Many internships offer student housing and within walking distance to the company or close to a public transportation service. According to Jamie Marsh, 99 percent of internships are paid, so chances are you will be able to pay for your daily living expenses. Salaries range depending on location and the cost of living in the area, but most employers take this into account. At the same time, the purpose of an internship is to get your foot into an industry, so don’t expect to make a fortune. Internships are extremely beneficial and often times lead to full time employment.

For more information on interviewing techniques and how to get your ideal internship, feel free to post questions on our forum and students can visit their school’s career center.

Click below to hear the whole interview. –Chris Adams, Talking Cents Team Member

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