5 Benefits of Interning in College

Whether you’ve just begun your college career, or you’re nearing the end of your higher education, you’ve probably either interned at one or more companies, or have considered applying to an internship program. Either way, it’s important that you take the time to acknowledge exactly how an internship can benefit you, so that you can enter your next opportunity with the right mindset, and be prepared to talk about your experiences with future employers. For example, an internship you accepted over one summer may have taught you that you actually want to switch majors, and that’s ok. That story will help companies that you want to work for in the future better understand your educational journey. Read more on that — and other benefits of interning — below. 

1. Explore your chosen (or a new!) career path

Internships are a great way for college students to explore their career options and gain real-world experience to understand their future career choices. They can help students discover new interests, develop professional skills relevant to the industry they are in, and gain confidence in their own capabilities. And ultimately, an internship can also help you decide if a career path will be worthwhile or if a change in direction is needed.

For example, if you're interning in an engineering role and realize you're not passionate about the field, it might be a good time to evaluate your career path. Or maybe you’re interning at a large organization, and realize that you’d excel at a smaller company. This information can help you in your search for a full-time role. 

2. Learn new critical soft skills

While interning in college, you gain practical, hands-on experience that cannot be compared to reading in a classroom or participating in academic experiments.

Through these experiences, you will develop key soft skills around communication, problem-solving, project management, and networking (and some hard skills too depending on your industry). Some opportunities allow you the chance to be mentored and guided to develop career-focused skills that you may not have been exposed to in the classroom. Gaining experience with real-work responsibilities and prioritizing tasks will make you a better employee and a more attractive job candidate.

For example, you may be tasked with a final project at the end of your internship that requires you to develop public speaking skills and strong communication skills.

3. Gain ample opportunities for networking

Networking with peers and professionals during an internship can be invaluable for college students. Not only does networking help you gain contacts in an industry, but it can open up doors for further opportunities down the road. When it's time to start a job search after graduation, you'll have direct access to individuals who can help. In fact, on average 70% of interns are hired at the same company they interned with following their internship. College internships offer students a unique chance to rub shoulders with industry experts who can serve as mentors by providing advice, access to professional circles, and knowledge about the inner workings of different organizations.

For example, many internships provide students with a mentor at the company. By keeping in touch with them and asking for advice even after the program is over, interns can gain more insight into the industry, learn about new job opportunities, and even get help writing their resumes.

4. Build up your resume

Interning in college is a great way to get a head start on your career and boost your resume. Having real-life experience differentiates yourself from other competing graduates applying for the same roles. It plays a critical role in a hiring manager's decision-making process: students without internship experience received 16% fewer job offers. Plus, getting real-world practice gives you greater confidence when interviewing and applying for roles that interest you, and gives you something to talk about during your interviews.

For example, if you're driven toward a career in accounting or finance, an internship program at a banking company can give you invaluable experience in the areas of financial analysis, compliance and risk management, asset management, and more to boost your resume when applying to full-time job opportunities.

5. Gain hands-on experience in the workforce

Internships are a fantastic opportunity for college students to gain real-world experience in their desired field. Participating in an internship gives students a competitive edge in the job market by putting them ahead of the curve, and giving them the confidence to prove that they have the necessary qualities required of those who are new and are just entering the workforce. Plus, college internships offer not only hands-on experience and better job prospects, but also invaluable knowledge about working within a professional environment.

For example, if you intern at a marketing firm, you might gain skills such as conducting market research, creating content strategies, using analytics to measure success, and more. These are invaluable skills that will give you an advantage over other graduates who don't have any real-world experience in the field.

Tying it all together

Internships are an invaluable opportunity for college students to gain meaningful experience and develop skills that will serve them in their future endeavors. With an internship, students can network with industry professionals, build their resumes, explore different career options, and gain hands-on experience in the workforce. Internships allow students to practice the skills they've acquired in a real-world setting and get a better understanding of their desired career paths.

Still trying to figure out where to start? RippleMatch can help you find the best internships for your experience and interests. Make a free profile today to find the perfect opportunities at world-class organizations.