When it comes to hiring recent college graduates, most employers hire applicants who have real-world experience under their belt. Research shows employers prefer applicants who possess strong problem solving, decision-making and prioritization skills, but many students lack these essential capabilities. One way to prepare students for the competitive job market is internships. Like Ethelemae Humphreys of TAMKO Building Products, many companies believe internships help students gain valuable work experience and foster professional relationships that will benefit them once they graduate and enter the workforce.
Here are some of the key benefits of internships:
1. Gain the real-world experience employers are looking for – This advantage is reason enough for students to participate in an internship program. If two students are competing for a job but only one of them has real work experience, the student with experience will probably get the job. Employers know that through an internship, you are working in a real work environment, where you are nurturing your existing skills and gaining many new ones. Internships help students enhance the important skills, including critical thinking, leadership, teamwork and written and oral communication skills, that are essential in the workforce.
2. Make valuable professional connections – Students don’t only leave an internship with valuable knowledge, but also they establish professional references that will benefit them when they apply for a job. Through internships, students can make strong professional connections that can help them network and find out about companies currently hiring within their field.
3. Learn more about a field of interest – While a student's major may be of great interest to them, they might not know what kind of job they want to pursue after college. Or, they may be working toward a degree for a career that they'll come to find out doesn't suit them. Internships allow students to explore different jobs and fields and come out with a better understanding of which one is right for them.
These are just some of the many advantages college students can experience from participating in an internship program. While you may not want to give up your summer or winter vacation, just remember the outstanding ways you can benefit from doing an internship.
Here are some of the key benefits of internships:
1. Gain the real-world experience employers are looking for – This advantage is reason enough for students to participate in an internship program. If two students are competing for a job but only one of them has real work experience, the student with experience will probably get the job. Employers know that through an internship, you are working in a real work environment, where you are nurturing your existing skills and gaining many new ones. Internships help students enhance the important skills, including critical thinking, leadership, teamwork and written and oral communication skills, that are essential in the workforce.
2. Make valuable professional connections – Students don’t only leave an internship with valuable knowledge, but also they establish professional references that will benefit them when they apply for a job. Through internships, students can make strong professional connections that can help them network and find out about companies currently hiring within their field.
3. Learn more about a field of interest – While a student's major may be of great interest to them, they might not know what kind of job they want to pursue after college. Or, they may be working toward a degree for a career that they'll come to find out doesn't suit them. Internships allow students to explore different jobs and fields and come out with a better understanding of which one is right for them.
These are just some of the many advantages college students can experience from participating in an internship program. While you may not want to give up your summer or winter vacation, just remember the outstanding ways you can benefit from doing an internship.