Justin Harrison

When we’ve got the education required for our career of choice, most of us start looking for a job.  But all too often, we end up running around in circles.  Even though we have the credentials we need, and even though we ace every interview, our lack of experience often results in us being passed over in favor of more seasoned candidates.

Sometimes it’s tempting to just give up and take a minimum wage job.  But that just puts us back at square one, not putting that wonderful education to use.  An internship can help us move forward instead of backward.

At first glance, an internship might not seem like a viable option.  Pay is usually either nonexistent or less than a full-fledged employee would make, and an internship is usually a short-term proposition rather than a long-term deal.  But becoming an intern can benefit you in many ways.  These include the following:

• An internship gives you something relevant to put on your resume.  Having relevant experience can help you get your foot in the door, but there’s more to it than that.  Employers like to see proven results from their candidates, and participating in an internship can provide opportunities to prove yourself.
• Being an intern can help you get solid references.  If you do well in your internship, you might be able to find one or more people at the company who are willing to vouch for your good performance.  These types of references carry much more weight than personal references, because they can attest to your job skills and work ethic.
• Interning can help you develop valuable skills.  Even if you’ve been through college already, there is just no substitute for hands-on, real world experience.  You can learn a lot from the opportunity to perform the types of tasks you would in a job in your field.
• Getting in with a company might lead to a paying position.  Your supervisor might decide that you would make a good candidate for a job with the company and make an offer.  Even if that doesn’t happen, the connections you make as an intern might help you find a job with another company.
• Being an intern can build your confidence.  Where you might previously have felt intimidated looking for positions in your field of choice, you can be more sure of yourself once you’ve actually done the type of work you’re looking for.
• There are many benefits associated with being an intern.  But all of these benefits boil down to getting a head start on your career.  Instead of ending up stuck in an entry-level position, you can get the skills and experience you need to move forward quickly.