Did you know that almost 70 percent of companies offer their interns full-time jobs? With the competition for entry-level jobs being so high right now, you might find that having an internship is a great way to find a full-time job after you graduate.
There are a lot more benefits to internships, though, and they can make a big difference on your resume as a whole. Read on to learn eight more of the best benefits of internships.
1. Professional Relationships
This might be the most obvious benefit, but you have the chance to build a lot of professional relationships as you enter into an internship. You have a chance to find mentors, colleagues, and even great references if you ever need them.
Whether your internship is in-person or virtual, you have a better opportunity to form personal connections than you would in a lot of other settings. You might even find that a lot of the relationships you form at your internship can last for many years to come.
2. Job Experience
If you already know what you want to be doing and your internship offers it, then you’re receiving direct on-the-job experience. If you’re in a scientific or medical field of any kind, they sometimes offer research lab time, which is a prerequisite that some jobs require.
Not only will have a chance to put all the skills you’ve learned to use in college, but you’ll also be able to contribute directly to anything the place you’re interning for does.
3. Lots of Options
If you don’t know what exactly you’re wanting to do after graduation, the good thing about internships is that you have options. A lot of companies will either let you rotate between departments or jobs, or you’ll be able to choose where you’d like to work once you arrive.
Whether you want to assist senior management, sit in on different meetings, complete small tasks, or simply observe the daily happenings in the office, you’ll be able to do so. Some places even offer internship housing, so you’ll have easy access to the office each day.
This is especially great if your field of study is general or you don’t have a specific focus. At the end of it all, you might even find your focus!
4. Better Idea of Your Goals
That leads to our next point — an internship is going to allow you to have a better idea about what your overall goals are. You might find that a lot of different things pique your interest throughout your studies, but an internship might be able to help you hone in on one area.
If not, you’ll start to get an idea of what the daily routine for your career field looks like. You’ll find that there’s some variation between positions, but that there are still a lot of similarities between each one.
You’ll also find that a lot of people are willing to help you figure things out along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
5. Building a Strong Resume
Again, this one might feel obvious, but getting an internship is a great way to build a strong resume. Not only can it allow you to get specific with your skillset, but you’ll also be able to gain a great understanding of your overall career objective.
6. Great References and Recommendations
Any mentors and supervisors you meet during your internship are going to serve as great references once you leave. As you begin looking for full-time positions, any managers you have a good standing with are great places to seek out references.
The more you worked with them, the more specific they’ll be able to be. They’ll be able to explain how your skills developed over time and how your education has prepared you for the employment you’re seeking.
7. Potential Permanent Job
As we’ve already covered, internships are very likely to lead to potential jobs, especially if you show interest from the very beginning. If you fit in with the people you’re working with and prove to be an asset, transition into a permanent job is easy to land. Hiring managers are also likely to use internships as an interview process, which means they’ll determine which interns would make a good fit for open positions they might have.
Internships can also act as preliminary employment training, meaning managers and even HR representatives can observe you in different situations to determine whether or not you’d be a valuable addition to their team.
8. Gain Confidence
Lastly, even if you don’t land a permanent job at your internship, it’s a great way to build confidence in yourself. When you begin applying for jobs, you’ll already have an understanding of the field you’re pursuing, and you’ll be able to carry that into any interviews you have along the way.
You’ll be able to gain hands-on experience rather than simply learning about it in class, and you’ll be able to observe how everything works around you. It’s an invaluable extension of your education, and it’s one that can help you advance in a lot of different ways.
Remember These Benefits of Internships
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of internships, it’s time for you to start applying for some of your own. Remember that internships are often going to be your first experience with your career choice, and first impressions are important. Not only is this going to help you get an idea about the things you’d like to accomplish, but it’s going to help you develop a successful professional career.
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