Are Internships Worth It? Unlocking Career Potential

When internships come to mind, many people think of overworked, unpaid interns performing mundane tasks. However, a strategic internship can offer quantifiable benefits that last long into your career. Interns are almost 25% more likely than non-interns to start a full-time position within 6 months of graduation. In today’s competitive job market, internships have become critical for success in finding a desirable full-time job as most entry-level jobs now require several years of experience.

The Rising Importance of Internships

Internships have come a long way from the thankless, coffee-fetching stereotype. Today, they can jumpstart your career in countless ways. Internships are truly a mixed bag. Some have landed interns highly coveted jobs, while others have ended in infamous lawsuits. Even if an intern doesn’t end up staying at the company where they interned, there’s tremendous value in this experience when we think about the professional connections made through an internship.

Overall, internships are powerful in making sure people are set up for success in their job search, have relevant skills and experience before entering the workforce full-time, and understand more about the industry and what it takes to be successful.

Finding the Right Internship

One of the biggest barriers to young people pursuing internships is often simply not knowing where or how to look.

Choosing Wisely

Students should first spend time thinking about what they want to be doing, as well as what they want to get out of the experience, and choose an internship that aligns with long-term career objectives or provides exposure to a field of interest.

Seeking Practical Opportunities

Look for internships that offer mentorship and training, as well as opportunities to work on real projects to gain hands-on experience.

Checking the Fit

Understanding the company culture will help determine if an opportunity is the right fit for a professional’s working style and personal growth. 84% of Gen Z say that cultural compatibility with the company they work for is essential.

Aligning Your Values

Keep in mind that timing is important. Summer internships are the most common, and there are some sweet spots timing-wise-start applying in early fall for specialized job functions like accounting, finance and engineering, or in January/early spring for roles in consulting, business development or marketing.

College students can often find good opportunities through their college’s career center and alumni networks. Many will have connections to companies that are hiring summer interns and could be valuable in helping someone get their foot in the door. Students should also take a look at their current network. While young people may think they don’t have a ton of connections or experience, they actually have a wide range of people they can tap to find opportunities or introduce them to people in their field of interest, including classmates and teachers, parents and family friends, volunteer coordinators or bosses from a summer job.

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

While many internships today are now paid, there are still unpaid internships available that you may consider. Many students won't be able to accept an unpaid internship that often includes a cost for commuting in addition to time spent working without a salary. But there are some internship scholarships that students can apply for that will give them a stipend.

Read also: Unlock summer legal internships

Regardless of if an internship is paid or not, interns will gain a ton of learning experience and connections that can help further their career. In the end, you will need to weigh all your factors to determine if an unpaid internship makes sense for your career. It really comes down to their personal situation and if they are able to take an unpaid offer.

Making the Most of an Internship

If you’ve already landed a great internship, congratulations! No doubt you want to make the most of this opportunity. Interns should make sure to talk to their coworkers, both for networking reasons and to learn about their daily roles, and set up 1:1 time with their boss to get their advice on where they want their career to go.

For example, if they’re a marketing intern but the sales department needs help on a task, they should raise their hand to help so they can get a wide variety of experiences. Finally, young people should be open to taking an internship in a different industry than they think they may want to work post-grad. They may end up loving it, or learning they aren’t actually interested in that field.

Certain industries are hiring more entry-level talent than others-Education, Government Administration, and Construction are some of the fastest-growing industries for career starters-so keeping an open mind and trying out different industries could open up a world of opportunity.

After the Internship

After the internship, it’s worth taking time to reflect on what you learned and how it translates to your next role. Interns should make sure to show off the skills they learned from the experience, as well as other in-demand skills, as this can increase their chances of being hired after the internship.

It’s great to list you were a finance or marketing intern at a household name brand, but what’s more powerful is the knowledge and interactions you gained from it. The opportunity to learn from someone directly, to observe how they navigate challenges, and to be able to have an open dialogue about their career path-what led them to where they are now-can shape an intern’s perspective on their career journey.

One example of an area to focus on is AI skills. 71% of global business leaders would rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced candidate who lacks them. So spend some time learning about AI. While learning AI skills can give job seekers an edge, people skills (also known as power skills, soft skills and professional skills) are becoming even more important in the age of AI. That’s why it’s vital to build on the professional skills you gained from the internship as you take the next step in your career.

The Benefits of Internships: A Deeper Dive

Internships and education often went hand in hand school year after school year, and, on average, people were overall happy with the experience. More than half felt the internship had been incredibly valuable to their career, and 84.5% said they were satisfied with the experience when they looked back.

If internships are, in fact, elitist, their regulations deserve a second look, as those who managed to make them work (paid or not) were certainly reporting some serious benefits. Doing much more than getting coffee and making copies, most respondents said their internships gave them hands-on work experience.

Relevant Experience

This type of relevant experience greatly helps a person later obtain full-time work, as lack of experience is an incredibly common reason to turn away an applicant. Job experience that was specifically relevant for their resumes was also a benefit for 75.1% of the interns in our study.

Career Insight

Insight into a potential career wasn’t the most common benefit (61.9% experienced this perk), but it may have been one of the most helpful. Sixty-three percent of people who interned in a particular field had chosen to stick with that one for life.

Minimizing Job Search Time

The time that internships minimized between graduation and job attainment might have been the most compelling, clear-cut benefit revealed through this study. On average, it took a full two months longer for college graduate applicants lacking an internship to get a job. This may represent two more months of expenses or added debts, in addition to the lack of an office to go to. From a manager’s perspective, relevant internship experience was highly likely to influence a decision to hire. More than half of respondents who had interned before said a relevant internship would make them “very or extremely likely” to hire the candidate.

Alternative Perspectives

In hindsight, would those who interned have chosen to spend their time another way? A third said a full-time or part-time job would have been more worthwhile, while 20.9% said they regretted not using the time to devote to school. But ultimately, just over half of people agreed that their internship was the best possible use of their time.

From an employer’s perspective, an internship is a relatively easy and potentially highly helpful opportunity to introduce into your company. Whether you’re an intern or a seasoned employee, having the right collaboration tools will help you get ahead.

Internships: More Than Just a Stepping Stone

Internships are often steppingstones to a first job, providing valuable experience, training, and confidence.

Who Benefits Most?

The main goal of any internship is to provide real-world, on-the-job experience. Contrary to popular belief, internships aren’t just for people starting their careers.

High School Students

Students wanting to get a head start on their careers should check out high school internships. This is a great way to try different types of jobs so you can figure out your future path - like what you want to study in college. Your internship can also provide a fresh perspective on the working world and, of course, teach you practical skills. Plus, you can put your internship on your college applications for an edge over the competition.

College Students

If you’re in college, an internship can help you bridge the career path from student to professional. College internships teach new skills and help you build a professional network to lean on when seeking job prospects after graduation. Depending on your school’s policies, you might be able to earn college credits for your internship. This means it’ll count toward your bachelor’s or master’s degree. If you don’t have time to intern during the semester (hello, full course load), don’t stress: You can do a summer internship.

People Needing Job Experience

Internships aren’t just for first-timers in the career world. Even if you’ve held a part-time or full-time job, you can benefit from an internship if you’re thinking of switching career interests or want to broaden your horizons. Job seekers can benefit from having a relevant internship on their resume, as it can expand their opportunities. While some internship programs cater to students, others are open to people of all ages and career stages. Check the internship program’s eligibility requirements before you apply to ensure non-students can apply.

Why Choose an Internship?

Whether you’re a high school or college student or a seasoned professional, an internship can help you level up your career in various ways. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), internships lead to more job offers and higher starting salaries when it comes to a job search. Several benefits of an internship can help boost your career prospects.

Gaining Experience

An internship throws you into the working world while you’re still under the supervision of a more senior professional. You can get hands-on, real-world work experience while still receiving guidance. It’s sort of like riding a bike with training wheels. Your internship can teach you the soft skills you need to thrive in a job later - when you’re ready to take the training wheels off. Plus, they’re a great addition to your resume. It shows you have experience (and the dedication to stick with a job).

Honing Career Goals

Internships are a great way to get your toes wet in the working world without a major commitment. Most internships are limited to a few months, giving you the opportunity to try different job types. Plus, internships expose you to various work environments, which can help you decide which field and job might be a fit for you. In one study, 81% of students said internships helped them adjust their college major, coursework selection, or career plan.

Developing Professional Skills

Your college education will teach you all kinds of valuable facts and skills - from critical thinking to analytical writing. However, you can’t learn everything in a classroom. An internship lets you hone your street smarts instead of book smarts. In a real-world environment, you can develop professional skills that you might not get to practice at school. Examples include communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, written and verbal presentation, and leadership skills.

Networking Opportunities

College is a great place to make friends. But let’s get real: These friends aren’t going to give you a job after graduation because they’re likely in the same boat as you. An internship is a great way to get to know people beyond your immediate academic circles. You can network with more established professionals and maybe even find a mentor or role model. Plus, a strong network can help you find jobs later.

Getting Your Foot in the Door

An internship experience may give you a competitive edge in the job market. Many companies use internships to fuel their talent pipeline, preferring to hire former interns instead of sourcing fresh talent externally. Companies train their interns in their processes and tools. So, they know the entry threshold and learning curve will be much lower for an intern than for a new hire. The ability to train potential full-time employees is one major advantage for companies offering internships.

Types of Internships

Not all internship programs are created equally. It can help to decide which type of internship you want before searching for your dream starter gig. For example, some internships last only six weeks, while others last three, six, or even 12 months. Many internships targeting college students parallel class schedules and last for one semester. But the internship length isn’t the only consideration.

Paid vs. Unpaid

Internship pay varies widely. Internships in industries like tech and finance pay more than internships in fields like nonprofit work or journalism. However, not all internships are paid. A business can justify this if the internship is characterized as a learning experience instead of a work experience. Always ensure the lack of pay is justified. Unpaid internships sometimes offer other forms of remuneration, such as living or housing stipends.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time

Internships can also be full or part time. Full-time positions can be ideal when you have time off from school or over the summer break. That said, they’re probably not realistic during the semester if you’ve got a full course load. Don’t worry: That doesn’t mean you can’t do an internship at all. You can choose from plenty of part-time internship opportunities to do alongside your studies. For example, you might go in for just a couple of hours a day or a few days per week.

Remote vs. On-Site

Remote work has become more common in recent years, and that trend extends to internships, too. Many employers offer remote internships along with their on-site options. You have more internships to choose from if you don’t have to be there in person. You won’t be limited by geography. Go to school in New York City but want to do an internship at a Silicon Valley tech company? No problem. That said, a remote internship has drawbacks. For example, you won’t benefit from in-person learning. You also won’t benefit from face-to-face networking through events like midday lunches and after-work social events (unless they’re virtual).

How to Find the Right Internship

The right internship depends on various factors, from your particular field of study to your career plan and personal preferences.

Research

You can research potential internships online. Job boards like Handshake are a good place to start. You can set filters like remote versus in-person and full-time versus part-time to find the right fit. If you find a promising possibility in your internship search, dig a little deeper to ensure you qualify for the internship. For example, some may target Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) or female applicants. Also, check which documentation you need to apply.

Use School Resources

Your school should have a career center that helps students prepare for the working world. For instance, career centers can provide resources to help you write cover letters and resumes. Many career centers also have job postings, including internship opportunities. Sometimes, companies collaborate with career centers to advertise jobs targeting university students.

Find Specialized Job Boards

Generalized job boards and university job boards aren’t your only options. You can also check out job boards that target certain applicants, like religious groups, women, or BIPOC. Job boards can also target specific majors. For example, Google offers engineering and technical internships, while Reuters offers journalism internships. There are even platforms offering internships in creative fields like fashion.

Prepare Your Resume

It's helpful to prepare your documents before applying for an internship. Start by drafting a resume. It should include details like your major, relevant experience, and extracurricular activities. You also want to write a unique cover letter for every internship you seek. Don’t just use the same letter for every internship application. Specify why you’d be a great fit for that internship in particular.

Attend Job Fairs

Job fairs give you the opportunity to meet with recruiters and other company representatives actively hiring students and recent grads. You can learn about internship programs, ask questions, and even apply on the spot. You can find out about local job fairs through your campus career center. You can check a company’s career page to see which internships are available and apply online. This is also an opportunity to leverage your network. If you know someone who works at a company you’re interested in, talk to them about your options. They might be able to help connect you with internship options.

Internship Red Flags

Internships can be a great way to gain experience, network, and more. However, it’s important to ensure you’re getting something out of the internship - be it money or skills training. Unfortunately, some companies exploit interns, using them for cheap or unpaid labor. Asking the right interview questions can help you identify exploitative internships.

Nothing But Grunt Work

You don’t want to get stuck fetching coffee for senior employees all day. Ask what type of work you’ll do, what kinds of projects you’ll work on, and what a daily workday might look like. The last thing you want is to hate your internship, since quitting likely means you’ll forfeit any college credit (if applicable).

Lack of Training

Interning is a form of on-the-job training. Ensure you’ll learn practical skills by asking what kinds of competencies the internship teaches and what training investments the company makes. It’s important to know you’re investing time and resources into an opportunity that could help you in your future career.

Lack of Goals

You want to accomplish some goals by the end of the internship. For example, a marketing intern could work on a social media campaign during their internship. Ask which objectives the business expects you to meet so you can prepare.

Maximizing Internship Success: Key Questions to Ask

Besides the fact that certain majors require internships as part of their courseload, the real value in internships for students is the ability to gain valuable experience and exposure in their specific field while also building a network and developing potential advocates. Students should be encouraged to look beyond just the site of where they hope to do their internship to focus on building a relationship with their coworkers and supervisor. This person could become a mentor and guide long past when this internship is over.

Additionally, to build a successful network students should also consider volunteering while in college. This can be a low-stakes way for students to develop a better idea of what they want out of an eventual internship. Students can be naïve and just assume that they will get a glowing letter of recommendation, but this not always the case. They are playing for the endorsement and connections. An internship is an excellent opportunity to develop an advocate for 21st century skills such as reliability, oral communication, ethical behavior, and a host of other real-life skills.

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