What Is an Internship and How to Land One
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Internships are critical periods of work experience that will help beef up your resume for long-term employment. But how do you find an internship and when should you accept an unpaid versus a paid one? We take a closer look and provide tips to help new job seekers and those hoping to make a career switch through internship.
Whether you’re still in school or fresh on the job market, internships can provide you with valuable work experience, learning opportunities and new connections. If you’re thinking about applying for an internship, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction.
What Is an Internship?
An internship enables you to apply your knowledge in a real-life work setting. Internships are typically short-term positions offered by organizations to individuals, which could include students in high school, college, or trade school, along with young professionals and career-changers. Interns can gain exposure to day-to-day life on the job, which can offer invaluable work experience for those curious about the different roles in their desired career field.
Types of Internships
There are part-time and full-time internships, and these positions can last anywhere from weeks to months to even a year. Some internships are paid, while others are unpaid. Some fulfill certain requirements for credentials, while others count as college credit.
What an internship offers depends on the type of industry you’re hoping to break into, as well as the experience you’re seeking. Whatever the case, you should seek an internship that will provide you with practical experience in a field you’d like to be in, as well as the opportunity to learn and make connections that may be helpful in the future.
Benefits of Internships
There are several benefits to obtaining an internship. For example, an internship can provide a preview of what a job would entail. It’s perfect for students trying to figure out which career path to choose or for those who simply want to know if they would be interested in a certain job.
Companies can also benefit from having interns on board, being that employers can propel interns forward in their careers while shaping the future of their organization. Oftentimes, internships can act as training programs for potential employees.
Interns can learn and develop skills that cater to an organization’s specific needs. In return, they can become ideal candidates for a company to hire full-time. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than 70% of employers end up offering interns full-time jobs.
Why Are Internships Necessary?
Internships act as a foundation for you to figure out what you want to do as you enter the professional world. You get to work alongside professionals who are doing the jobs you might envision for yourself. Internships may also give you a chance to experience what you like and don’t like about a job, which ultimately helps you figure out what you may not want to do in your career. Think of an internship as a trial run to ensure you’re studying in the right field or going after the right jobs for your professional growth.
Internships also can provide necessary work experience that can help you obtain a job in your desired profession. Whether you’re learning how to perform a medical assessment on a patient, build a complicated excel sheet, or effectively communicate with a team, an internship can be the place to hone these skills and bring them into a future position you might land.
“In my opinion, internships are necessary to provide practical industry experience outside the classroom. Obviously, they look good on one’s profile when looking for full-time jobs but besides that the experience is invaluable,” says Sakshi Rambhia, Associate Product Manager at Google and founder of Scholarship Track. “They give exposure and help build required workplace skills. For example in the tech industry, I learned the production stack and process is completely different than what we learned in school.”
“And like they say, practice makes perfect, so internships are a form of practice right?”
“And like they say, practice makes perfect, so internships are a form of practice right?”
Having internship experience on your resume can put you on the top of a job application pile. It’s not enough to just have the education; you need practical experience applying what you’ve learned so you can show potential employers that you’re fit for the job.
An internship is also an opportunity to network. If a company likes your work ethic and ability to perform tasks, chances are you’ll make a good impression on them. This impression can lead to a potential job at the company, or, if anything, a great referral and connections that can validate your abilities. Make connections with the employees you work with during your internship and ask for references to help you move into your career. Once you get these references, however, it’s important to know what to do with them.
“Do you have people lined up ready to give you a great reference? Great!” says Hannah Mason, an international CV writer and resume writer. “But don't just list these names on your CV and wait until the end of the interview process for them to tell the employer how amazing you are. Get these references on your profile by requesting a LinkedIn recommendation. Use these recommendations as a way to stand out from the competition.”
Are Internships Paid or Unpaid?
Internships can be paid or unpaid, and oftentimes it depends on the employer and the industry. The average hourly wage for paid interns during 2021 was $20.76, according to NACE’s 2021 Internship & Co-Op Survey Report. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not every intern is paid, and some are unpaid but receive college credit to complete their degree.
While there is debate on if it’s legal or ethical to not pay interns, the current law under the Fair Labor Standards Act states that unpaid internships are legal if the intern is the “primary beneficiary” of the arrangement, which is determined by a seven-point test.
Rambhia shares her thoughts on paid and unpaid internships. “I vouch for paid internships as I think unpaid internships are a privilege that not everyone can afford,” she says. “Unpaid internships seem like volunteering to me. However, I understand that candidates may find it difficult to land paid internships.”
If you are struggling with finding a paid internship position, Rambhia suggests you continue to build your skills through projects and volunteering when possible. She gained skills and experience by “volunteering” at various places, in addition to school and her day job.
The difference between a paid and unpaid internship can be exemplified through the expected role the intern plays. Some internships will expect interns to work much like a standard employee and produce work with little direction. While the intern is still supervised, they may just be gaining hours of experience, building a portfolio of work and perfecting their skills. Unpaid internships may have a more hands-on training role. In this case, an employer may bear more responsibility for teaching the intern how to do a job.
How to Find an Internship in Four Steps
Finding an internship is much like finding a job. The following four steps can help you get your search started:
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1. Tap into Your Resources
If you’re a student, tap into your school’s career center to find an internship. Chances are that career advisors have done the hard work and have already established partnerships with certain companies that are looking to hire interns from your school. Take advantage of any internship listings and send out your application to any that you might be interested in.
2. Network
Career fairs and networking events with companies and school alumni can be a direct line to landing an internship. Put yourself out there and attend networking opportunities. While it may be intimidating to go to an event and chat with strangers, just remember, the only thing you have to lose is a chance at landing an amazing internship.
People won’t know you exist if you don’t put it out there that you are looking for job experience. Additionally, reach out to family and friends, and let them know you are on the market for an internship. You never know what connections people might have to get you that “in.”
3. Check LinkedIn
An easy and smart place to start with your internship search is LinkedIn. With a network of over 750 million members, which includes working professionals and companies, LinkedIn is bound to have an internship opportunity that fits your career aspirations. Look at companies that interest you, follow their company page, and check job postings for internships. You can typically apply through the LinkedIn platform or find company contact information to reach out directly. If a company you like doesn’t have any internships available, you can also reach out to hiring managers to see if any are upcoming.
4. Research Companies You Want to Work For
Build a list of companies you want to work for and research those businesses to find out who you need to contact in regards to an internship. You can also look on LinkedIn to see who works for the company to make that introduction.
“Take more control over your job search! Instead of relying on job boards, where you’ll be competing with more people, use alternative sources to discover opportunities,” advises Job Search Strategist Hannah Morgan. This includes looking for internship opportunities on Company Career Pages, and finding internship hashtags on social media, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Four Tips for Getting an Internship
Getting an internship typically requires a couple of steps, including submitting a resume or application and interviewing with a hiring manager. Luckily, just like interviewing for a job, we have four tips for getting an internship:
1. Build a Solid Resume
Your resume is the first impression a potential employer looks at when deciding whether to bring you on as an intern. Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience in your projected career field, be sure to incorporate any relevant experience — such as leadership roles you’ve held in extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or classes you’ve taken that would be applicable to the internship — and skills you might have that will come in handy. In addition, don’t forget to include any work experience you have, as employers want to see that you have the potential to do the job, as well as a great work ethic.
2. Apply Early
Figure out application deadlines ahead of time. Internships can get competitive, and you likely won’t be considered if you turn in an application too late. Try to apply early to show that you are eager and ready for an internship role at a company.
3. Be Humble
As you search for internships and review job descriptions, you may come across some tasks that you might not want to do. While you could bring a lot of value to a company as an intern, remember that respect is earned. Maintaining a good attitude throughout all internship tasks, which could be mundane, can show that you’re up to do the job. Express this to employers as you submit resumes and begin to interview.
4. Prepare for the Role
Doing adequate research on the company you want to work for is key to landing an internship. Dig through their website, social media, and relevant news about them to better understand the company. Then, prepare a cover letter and resume that caters to the vision of the company and your skillset. Show your eagerness to work for the company and detail what you can offer that sets you apart from other candidates. Practice for your interview, anticipate questions they might ask, and figure out what it is about the company that makes you want to work there, and what value you can bring as an intern.
Being a Successful Intern
Once you land an internship, do the job as if it were your only job. Be proactive and volunteer to do tasks if they present themselves, build relationships with your supervisors, and show everyone around you your capabilities. Also, be sure to practice your time management and communication skills, which could include keeping track of all the projects you have and keeping your supervisors or mentors in the loop on your progress.
Be receptive to feedback and ask how you can improve. Making mistakes is completely normal and even expected.
“Making a few mistakes during your internship does not mean you’ve failed. Making mistakes is human,” says Rambhia. “Most of the people I have talked to have shared stories of their mistakes and said that they still landed a return offer. Enjoy the process, develop skills and take home memories.”
If you can envision yourself working for a company, put it out there that you want to become a full-time employee. Treat your internship as a trial run for the real deal. You never know when an opportunity may arise and when you will be the one to fit the bill.
Top Takeaways
What is an internship and how do you find one?
(Reporting by NPD and Mariah Flores)