College is not just a time to go out and party all weekend and study all week. If you can devote part of your time every week to internships in college you will be far ahead of your peers when you graduate.
College is the perfect opportunity to try a bunch of new career paths while not having to worry as much about the long term commitment.
Many times students don’t know what type of internships they should get while in college so I developed this 5 point guide to help.
Here is a quick guide to evaluating internships in college:
- Time Commitment: It is important to make sure that it is something that you can handle along with your work load and your social life. Internships are a great way to build connections and can help you get a foot in the door but if you cannot perform the tasks that are asked of you through the internship then taking it on may actually hurt you more than help. Do your best to put yourself in a position where you can excel.
- Relevance to your area of expertise: There are two theories about how much your internship should relate to your area of expertise. Some believe that you should only take on opportunities that are in your field while others think branching out is a good way to lean about other areas. I am a proponent of the latter because broadening your understanding of how everything functions is a good career move. It makes an employee more versatile. You also never know how things are connected so while a job may not seem to fit with your career plans it may, in fact, be closely related. I would not dismiss an opportunity simply because it is not in your specific field.
- Organization type: Startups are where you learn the most. In no other type of organization are you able to try a variety of different tasks and actually make a difference to a company. In a startup you are part of a vibrant and growing team. You have the ability to do what you love to do and you will never have a dull moment. Big businesses are great for upward mobility and job stability (for the most part) but you can quickly get lost in the shuffle and turn into just another number.
- Type of work: Getting someone coffee 5 days a week does you no good. You want a position in which you can learn new material every day. Working under someone with more experience can be very helpful, but also make sure you are always looking for ways to improve. This aspect of evaluating internships in college is similar to the time commitment. You want to be challenged but you don’t want to sign up for something you know you cannot do.
- Compensation: I hesitated when including this item on to this list. Compensation should be the least of your worries when making a decision about internships in college. There is a difference between an internship and job. Internships are designed to help you grow; they are there to allow you the ability to gain experience and get a significant advantage over your peers. While compensation is nice, giving up a great opportunity in an area that you are passionate about because of the amount they will or will not pay you is not a smart career move.
Remember that the type of internship that you decide to take on is a reflection of your personal brand. In the corporate world everyone wants to see some experience. If you have a way to stand out against the sea of college graduates with a 4 year degree and limited work experience you are a significant step ahead.
Internships in college are the best way to jumpstart your career.
- Author: RJ Sherman
