Today I had a very interesting conversation with a Fox student about the need to complete an internship.  I have had many students ask me in the past whether or not an internship was needed in order to secure a job after graduation, so his question was not a new one.  Typically students have said to me that they didn’t necessarily want to complete an internship but their parents wanted them to.  What made this afternoon’s conversation interesting was the fact that he felt he needed to complete an internship, but his mother didn’t think so.  She would prefer it if he took classes over the summer instead to ensure that he graduate on time.  It made me wonder if other students are not currently having the same conversation (or a similar one) with their parents or just thinking about this question as this holiday break approaches.  To intern or not to intern?  So, let me attempt an explanation that might prove useful if you are considering whether or not to complete an internship this coming summer.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2008 Experiential Education Survey, almost 70% of employers extended post-graduation offers to their interns.  This means that having that internship will increase the likelihood that you have a job when you graduate.  Additionally, interns who accepted those job offers where more likely than their non-intern counterparts to stick with the organization/company.  This can probably be attributed to the fact that they were already familiar with the surroundings and knew what to expect.  There were less new job jitters and more confidence and familiarity.

Some students worry about graduating “on time” (meaning in 4 years).  But, today the average college student spends four and a half to five years completing their degree and FAFSA can last up to 5 years.  Not to mention the fact that students often change their major multiple times which can adversely effect the length of time spent working towards a degree.  So, “on time” is really relative.  Plus when you are a senior and are polishing up your resume to post for full-time jobs there should be no high school or earlier information listed, only expected graduation date from college, so no one knows how long it took you to work on your degree.  I have yet to have a student or employer tell me that the question “How long did it take you to complete your degree?” was asked during an interview.  Therefore, baring financial constraints, there is no reason a traditional aged student should not attempt to complete an internship or co-op.

If you are reading this or have read the other blogs about internships you might be thinking…What if I have to work or I can’t find an internship?  If you are working, find out if the company you work for has an office related to your major or volunteer to help your boss.  For example, you work at “X” retail chain as a salesperson.  If the corporate office isn’t nearby but you are a human resource major volunteer to help your boss when the next position needs to be filled.  Or if you are an accounting major and you work at “So and So’s Family Restaurant” as wait staff volunteer to help your boss balance the books at the end of the night.  If you don’t have a job or can leave the one you are at Patrick Combs (author of “Major in Success”) recommends that if you cannot get an internship try working for a temporary employment agency during the summer break.  You never know where these opportunities can lead. 

So, the short answer is YES! 

How To Befriend The Boss On Facebook

There may come a time in your working life when you recieve a friend request from your boss on your social networking account. The above video lightheartedly shows you how to handle what could be a sticky situation IF the information on your account is questionnable (however if you read the earlier post by Jena Bandini, or read the WWW.YOU.COM On-the-Go brochure in the CSPD office or on the CSPD website, then you know that you really should not have anything on your site that could be embarassing for you professionally).

At this point it isn’t about first impressions, because you already have that great job or internship you were looking for. You should maintain the idea that your employer was just as right to choose you for the position as you were to have choosen to work for them. Remember it is a two way street that leads to employment bliss. OK maybe not bliss, but you should feel the position you have taken is a good fit for you and one that you would not want to loose because of a non-work related faux paus (like questionnable pictures or comments on your Facebook account) or work related one for that matter. Somewhere down the line you will be ready for the next step, either a full time offer after a successful internship or a promotion after your first post-grad job, and you should make sure that your image is protected and is reflective of the hard-working person that you are. You should also be thinking about what you can do on the job that will set you apart from your co-workers, but that is another blog for another time…