Internships: An Overview

Internships have become a significant piece of a college student's education. Internships are useful to all students deciding on a career direction or entering the job market.

Increasingly, employers are looking for employees with experience. The question graduating college students ask is: "If an employer wants experienced people, how can I gain experience if someone won't hire me?" Planning for internships and related experiences will give you that "hands-on" work-related opportunity that many employers require.

An internship can assist you in deciding a number of wants and needs regarding your career. An internship can help you include certain careers and eliminate others. An internship assists you in gathering information regarding the following:

• What type of work you see yourself doing
• The size of a company that is preferable to you
• Working alone or with groups of people
• Working for profit or non-profit businesses and companies
• Trends in industries as they related to your career goals

Employers are looking for people with defined goals. Your internship will clarify and demonstrate to an employer that your job search has focus and direction.

Many opportunities exist for interns. Provided in this booklet are resources available on the Internet, Career Management Services, located in the Administration Building, Room 139, and information on individual internship exploration.

Hopefully, this book will take away some of the mystery of identifying and applying for internships. The key to finding an internship that will provide the type of experience you are looking for is starting early.

Please contact the Career Services Office at (574) 520-4425 or sbcareer@iusb.edu for further assistance or speak with your academic advisor.