Are you interested in getting some hands-on experience as you study and train to enter a new line of work? Doing an internship could be an eye-opening and door-opening experience for you. As an intern, you get to spend a brief period of time working in a supportive role in your field, learning from seasoned professionals as you get a taste of what it’s like to do this for a living. If you’re wondering if doing an internship is right for you, read on as we take a close look at internships.
Make a Budget
If you’re thinking of doing an internship, look at your finances before you say yes. Some internships are paid; some are not. Even the ones that are paid are short-term and come without benefits, so you can’t rely on them to take care of your needs long-term. While you could work a side job while doing an internship, that would give you less time to network and do any skill development work when you’re not at the office.
If the internship is unpaid, ask yourself: do you have enough savings to carry you through the internship and at least one-three months beyond it? You may not get a job offer to stay on when your internship is done (or you may not want to continue working there), so you have to plan for a possible employment gap once your internship ends.
When putting your budget together, take into account what you spend each month on housing, utilities, food, transportation, and other essential expenses (like taking care of a pet). You should also consider ear-marking some of your money as a contingency fund; this is money to be used in case of an emergency.
A good budgeting rule to follow is the 50/30/20 rule: 50 percent of your post-tax earnings going to essential needs, 30 percent to wants, and 20 percent for savings and debt repayment. Considering the temporary nature of an internship, you may want to switch those numbers around and put 30 percent into savings instead until you’ve secured steady employment.
“While an internship may require some short-term sacrifice, the experience can be well worth it if it offers valuable training, networking opportunities, or a path to future employment,” said Gina Pinch, Rio Salado College faculty chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration.
Learn New Skills
Internships are a great way to learn on the job. You get to develop practical, hands-on experience working in the industry under the guidance of people who can help you improve your craft. You also get to learn how to conduct yourself while working in your desired field.
“The experience can help boost your confidence and prepare you to enter the workforce with a clearer sense of what employers value and how you can contribute within a specific field,” Pinch said.
Figure Out What You Want to Do
One of the benefits of interning is that it lets you “try before you buy.” It’s one thing to want to enter a field and study for it; it’s quite another to experience it day in, day out as a working professional. You may find out that your dream job or workplace is actually a bad fit for your talents and ambitions. Your internship could show you what not to do and inspire you to seek out a different direction. Or, you may end up seeing a different role within the industry you’re entering that appeals more to you; maybe you shadow a co-worker in another department and find the work they do to be much more interesting than what you were preparing for. These are all insights you can only acquire by being in the room and experiencing the work first-hand.
It’s Who You Know
When it comes to finding a job and getting ahead in almost any field, networking matters. Getting yourself out there and meeting people can expose you to opportunities you’d never get otherwise. As an intern, you have the chance to make a strong impression with people who are already established in the field you’re trying to enter. These are people who could one day become full-time co-workers, recruiters, bosses, even mentors. When opportunities present themselves to socialize or receive training or mentorship from others during your internship, take full advantage of them.
Build Up Your Resume
Internships aren’t just good for skill development and making connections: they can look great on a resume. It shows you have a little bit of experience and gives you something to talk about at the interview. An internship can also give you a leg-up by having you meet people who can vouch for your character and professionalism as job references and letter of recommendation writers.
And if you’re worried that you’ve “aged out” of an internship, that isn’t the case: internships aren’t just for students!
Article by Austin Brietta
Career Corner
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