Internships…Are They Really Worth It?

Yes. Are they hard to find? Yes. Are they easy? No. You’re probably thinking, “Why the heck would I want to do one then?!” Because an internship is how you’ll find a job when you graduate. The job market is really tough right now, especially for recent college graduates with no real work experience. Internships are that real work experience that you need on your resume for employers to even consider you for a position. They can also lead to a job within the organization where you are interning.

People who witnessed your work at an internship also become very good references to have. Even if a company doesn’t have an open position to offer you once your internship is over—they can still recommend you for other positions and may even be able to help you find a job.

Antoine D. Moss, Ph.D. of NASA’s biggest advice for college students, “Intern, intern, intern – Employers want students who have already gotten their hands dirty in the real-world. Therefore you must complete as many internships as you can. Be sure to develop a customized internship plan to achieve your goals while you are interning.”

Many students can get overwhelmed having an internship, attending classes, doing homework and possibly another job while trying to maintain a social life. It can be extremely overwhelming—for a semester or so. They are well worth it though; a semester is not that long to sacrifice your social life. Many internships are only ten hours or so a week. If you budget your time right, ten hours a week doesn’t really affect your life much.

Some internships can be really fun too. Not all internships are getting people coffee and running their errands. Some internships also offer some benefits such as discounts or even stipends at the end of your semester with them. My advice to students is to get an internship, as many as you can, and work your butt off. Kiss ass to everyone that you can. You need references and connections. Network as much as you can and get business cards of everyone you meet. Don’t sacrifice your school work though for internships. Try to plan your time wisely and learn how to balance school, internship, work, and your social life.