INTERNSHIPS are more important than ever
The right internships were always considered important for college grads preparing to go out into the world to build careers. Today, they’re a vital career asset.
They’re far more than a resume booster, explains Paul Lewis, chief customer officer at job search engine Adzuna ( www.adzuna.com). “They play a significant part in shaping students’ career interests, broadening their skill sets and helping them network and develop professional goals. Employers also see great value in internships for finding top talent to build their teams.”
Internships allow students and recent graduates to test-drive a potential career, as well as offer invaluable experiences from the people whom they are able to meet, the different scenarios they are able to work in and the skills that they will come away with, Lewis said.
Additionally, “internships are also a great way for job seekers to get their foot on the door and gain experience in a field where they may lack credentials but have an interest in pursuing,” Lewis adds. “Given the shifts we’ve seen in the labor market over the past couple of years, employers are looking at interns as potential future employees who will bring in knowledge from previous experiences as well as a new, fresh perspective and an eagerness to learn. This is critical for companies’ future planning, as smart organizations know that success is based on the teams themselves.”
Take advantage of the Texas Internship Challenge (TIC). The TIC is recommended by the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to the Governor’s Office. It offers a free website ( www.TXInternshipChallenge.com) encouraging employers to offer more paid internships for Texas students. It allows employers around the state to post internships so that students can apply for them. It is designed to meet accessibility guidelines, offers veterans’ preference hiring and supports technical as well as nontechnical jobs.
TIC helps students acquire workplace skills so that they’re more competitive for the full-time job search. Students can explore in-demand occupations in Texas and make connections with employers. And employers have the opportunity to explore talent, benefit from different skill sets and train candidates for full-time positions.
Typically, individual employers determine internship salaries. The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 an hour. When competing for interns, however, employers said the going rate is $12-$15 an hour, or even more in high-demand industries or companies.
Academic requirements of for-credit internships are set by a student’s high school or college/university and vary by school, degree path and internship.
Are you eligible to apply?
Employers offer internships and apprenticeships to high school and postsecondary students, recent graduates, veterans and adult learners. To apply, you have to be 16 or older.
What to look for
Internships are not all the same. Do your homework so that you find one that meets your needs and career goals. A good internship should offer the following:
1. Teaches the basic knowledge and skills required to get hired for a fulltime job (either in the company where you interned or by one of its competitors).
2. Provides experiences that will positively enhance your resume.
3. Helps develop networking contacts who can assist you in your future job search.
Additionally, speak with academic advisors, school career counselors and professors to discover which companies in your target industry offer the best internships — where you’ll receive real, value-added experience. To learn more visit www.thebalancecareers.com.
Consider prospecting for internships
Many excellent internships are landed through prospecting. This means identifying companies you want to work for and contacting them directly, which can result in some of the best internships, for these two reasons:
1. By identifying companies that don’t advertise their internships, you’ll avoid competing with the thousands of potential applicants who didn’t find out about the internship, because it wasn’t listed online.
2. When contacting a company directly, you stand to help create the type of experience you are looking for and may be allowed to have input into what the internship involves.