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Internships from a Student's Perspective

by Stephen Cantine, M.A.
Director of Career Services, Utica College

In last months column I took an introductory look at co-ops and internships and the benefits you may receive from participating in these experiential education activities during your academic career. For this months column I thought it would be interesting to follow up on the topic of experiential education with insight from a current student, who is in the process of pursuing a summer internship. Keshia Clukey is a Sophomore Journalism Studies major at Utica College and this is her story.
You’re getting ready to interview for a job and are writing your resume when you realize, "I have no work experience!" Fast food and babysitting jobs do not give you points as a candidate for a professional job in the real world. This is why internships are so very important.
The earlier you start doing internships the better off you are both on paper and for real life experience. Many college students have a time when they are unsure about their chosen major. Internships show you what you will be doing in your field, and can be helpful in either telling you to pick a different major or sealing the deal with the one you picked.
The more internship experience you have the better prepared you will be in the workplace, and the more connections you will make. So as a sophomore I decided to begin my search. I looked online for internships. I also went into my college’s Career Services office. They have all the information I could ever want about any career openings as well as co ops and internships. I found those relating to my major and asked for more information.
I had several factors to contend with while trying to find an internship that was right for me. One of these was location, would I be able to get there and if I had to stay there would I have enough money for an apartment. Another issue was when I wanted to do my internship. Some are offered during the semester, others during the summer, and there are even internships over winter break. A third factor was do I have the money to do an internship? With all these questions in mind I began talking to people.
I talked to the career services staff and they gave me the information I needed to know what internships were out there, if they were paid, if travel expenses were included, and when I had to apply by. The Career Services office also helps to prepare your resume so that when the internship or job of your dreams comes up, you’re ready to mail out your self advertising packet right away.
I also discussed everything with my advisor. My plan was to do the internship over the summer. I also would like to do one my senior year to jump start me right into a professional position, but currently my focus is on summer 2006. My one of my father’s coworkers called to my attention an internship scholarship. I applied for that. I also realized that I needed to do my internship in my hometown since that would be where I was staying in the summer and I don’t have a car to get me anywhere far from home. Scholarships and grants for internships are more available than you think. There are opportunities online, and you should always keep your eyes peeled to your local newspaper for articles like the scholarship in my case. The best way though, is to look at what your college has to offer.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Those that are afraid to ask will never know and that could be the difference in the long run to how your future turns out. By taking an active role in my internship search, I have ended up with the perfect internship lined up for summer and have applied for scholarships so that I can afford to not be working fast food and babysitting jobs to earn tuition money. Taking initiative shows others that you strive for what you want, and those that recognize it will be more inclined to help you towards your ideal future. So look for internships now so that when it comes time to get your dream job you’re not left in the dust of someone who thought ahead.