Tara has a PhD in Marketing & Management
You've studied marketing for a couple of years in college and are eager to put your skills to work in the 'real world,' even though you still have two more years of courses. What are your options: quit school, get a part-time job, or patiently wait until you get your degree. None of the options fit your needs. You want to dig in now while you're still in school and work in a flexible environment. That's when you learn about internships.
Internships are paid or unpaid positions within companies that give you the chance to put your skills to work for a company that offers you a chance to learn and work in a flexible setting. Many times the hours are adaptable to your needs and work around a student's schedule. You have a chance to experience what a job in your field is like before you finish all of your education.
There are many options for scheduling an internship. Many companies offer summer internships where students come and work full-time during the summer when they are not attending school. These internships are similar to a full-time job and give a feel for what it will be like when students are out of school and working a 40-hour work week.
You learn of an internship opportunity at an advertising agency. The position allows you to work with a wide variety of clients to create marketing messages. In just a few months, you will have a chance to consistently work with 20 different companies, which will allow you to have a wide variety of experiences and opportunities.
Some firms allow students to work during the school year and are flexible around the class schedule. This can be a win-win for both the intern and the organization. The student can continue to take courses and further their education while also gaining valuable work experience in their chosen field. The company benefits by having extra help and support from students who have education in their industry and can handle projects or work on an ongoing basis. The additional benefit for the company is that many internships are unpaid, which provides free work in trade for the opportunity to learn from the company. Even if the internship is paid, the rate is often far below what the pay rate would be for a regular employee. This saves the company money while getting work done.
After completing your summer internship, you ask your contact if they have an ongoing internship opportunity that would allow you to continue to refine your marketing skills during the school year. You figure you can commit to 10 hours per week. This is a great option for the advertising firm because you can use the knowledge you have and the education you will continue to gain during the school year. Their clients speak favorably of you and want to continue to work on the projects you've started with them. This is a positive situation for the clients, the firm, and you.
Another common internship is for recently graduated students to apply their skills immediately after they have completed their degree. This internship often provides more diversity, responsibility, and opportunities for the intern. It also prepares a student to enter the workforce, especially if they don't have solid work experience. Another advantage is it gives a student a foot in the door for companies that may have job openings in the future.
After you finish your degree, you decide you would like to go to New York City and work with a large marketing firm. Because there is a great amount of competition for positions there, you apply for an unpaid internship to get your foot in the door. The internship is scheduled to last four months, giving you a chance to apply all of the knowledge you have while gaining additional valuable skills in a real-life scenario. You work hard during your internship and are excited to learn the company would like to give you a full-time job at the end of your four months. Your internship has turned into long-term employment.
Internships are an opportunity to apply knowledge learned in college to a work environment. As an intern, you have a chance to work in a company, learn from others, and try out what you've studied in school. Internships may be paid or unpaid and often provide flexibility to match a student's schedule. Companies may offer internships during the summer, during the semester, or after graduation.
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How to Get an Internship4 chapters | 16 lessons
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