By Kaitlyn Boisvert –
‘Internship’ can be considered a very broad and loose term, with many different possible definitions that attempt to perfectly capture and convey what internships truly are. Yet, “hands-on field experience” seems to be the most commonly used description, as internships typically bring students into a work environment, where they have a chance to get a taste of what the professional world is like. According to an article featured on About.com titled “Why Students Should Consider Doing One or More Internships”, “internships rovide a link between academic learning and professional employment.”
Often times, if a student pursues an internship that correlates with his or her major, they receive the chance to put what they learned in class to use. Things they may have studied may be brought to life for them to see and experience. A student pursuing a degree through the Administration of Justice may finally get to integrate what they have learned about law management through interning at a firm. A Social Work major, who has read a lot about poverty in America, may actually get the chance to first-hand witness those who are afflicted with the issue.
According to Michael Wisnewski, the Director of Salve Regina’s Career Development department, internships are commonly offered through colleges in the United States, and it is often recommended that college students begin to look into future internships in their sophomore year of college. “Internships are a way for students to gain more beneficial skills while at the same time weaving in their interests and past experiences,” said Wisnewski, “and for potential future employees viewing a resume, it really is like icing on a cake.”
During Salve Regina’s early years as a women’s college, internships were a common feature, as many of the female students pursued studies in Nursing and Education, two fields where hands-on experience are imperative. Now, in the present day, Wisnewski guesses that about 70% of Salve’s academic departments require their students to pursue internships, while the rest strongly encourage their students to consider interning.
Some of the most common academic departments that have their students pursue internships are the departments of Business Administration, the Administration of Justice, Social Work, and English Communications. Most students try to pursue internships for workplaces stationed in their local area, while others intern for places in other parts of Rhode Island. Some students, however, leave the state entirely, pursuing internships in more urban places, such as Boston.
Most students who pursue internships often speak positively of their experiences, as they are often brought into new environments where they are surrounded by many learning opportunities and chances to craft new skills. Yet, students find different forms of gratification in internships; some may enjoy getting to meet professionals, while others revel in getting to perform hands-on work.
On Salve Regina’s webpage for the Administration of Justice department, a student testimonial says, “What I think really helped me out personally was not so much what I learned, which was impressive, but it was the invaluable contacts I was able to make.” In addition to helping providing students memorable experiences and new opportunities, internships also have the potential to help students discover where their true interests lie.
“Internships give students an accurate picture of the type of organization they hope to work for,” said Dr. Edelstein, the Chairperson of Salve Regina’s Business Administration Department. “Some internships turn into full-time employment upon graduation, while other internships help a student realize they may want to seek employment in a different direction.”
Participating in an internship, however, can sometimes be viewed as an additional hassle and time-consumer, especially if a student is already attempting to juggle both school and work at a paying job. Because internships are generally unpaid, some students may think them to be too time- consuming and just not worth the effort.
Wisnewski insists that it is possible to manage an internship as well as pursuing studies and a working a job. He also says that all students should consider internships because the benefits and resume-building experiences are just priceless. Learning to juggle an internship and a job along with going to school can also help students develop impressive manners of organization and time-management skills. It can also lead to new exciting work opportunities, as many companies often offer first-entry positions through internships. It is for this reason that students should consider internships, even if they may require them to surrender a bit more of their free time.
For students who are looking into internships, Wisnewski recommends that they take the three approaches to advancement through networking, reaching out to faculty, and going to Career Development. Students can also utilize search databases or even go straight up to places of interest and inquiring in person. Yet amidst all this, students should always aspire to have an idea of where their goals lie.
“Students interested in becoming interns should have an idea of where their interests lie and what they would like to get out of an internship,” said Wisnewski. “If I were to give a sound piece of advice, I would say: ‘Be creative and be open!’”
