Internships are an important part of any business degree program. They give you real world experience and knowledge that augments what you learn in the classroom and provide valuable insight to the career you want to pursue. Even more importantly, they can help you build connections and sometimes even lead to that first job!
Gain Important Experience
Many top companies expect new hires to have internship experience. So, in some instances, the
internship isn’t just a nice to have, it’s a must. Entry-level positions are increasingly competitive, and without a strong resume, it’s difficult to find a job after graduation without some experience. Internships give you that real-world introduction to business that can complement your degree and can set you apart from other job candidates. When you highlight them on your resume, be sure to detail specific projects you completed, the skills you applied during the internship, and success metrics for everything that you did. Most interns report being very satisfied with their experience, making it a win for you, both personally and professionally.
Get Your Foot in the Door
Many companies will use interns as the primary recruiting pool for hiring. In fact, 68% of interns are offered a full-time job upon internship completion, and of those, more than 81% accept the offer. Also, since 2016, employers report consistent yearly increases in intern hiring projections. The experience you gain during an internship and the connections you make serve as a trial for companies to assess fit and production before they hire you. On the flip side, internships can also give you a chance to try out a company before you make a full-time commitment to them.
Grow Your Professional Network
Internships help you meet and work with professionals you can’t meet in the classroom. These early career connections can offer career guidance, advice, introductions, and mentorship. When it comes time to apply for jobs, they can also act as references. That’s why it’s critical that during your internship, you develop a reputation as a responsible, hardworking team member, so that your connections feel good about helping you or vouching for you in the future.
Improve Your Academic Performance
Long-term benefits aside, internships can also lead to more immediate academic improvements. Internship participation is linked to higher GPA, graduation rates, and the potential to graduate on-time, or even early.
Develop Key Skills
Internships allow you to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world to improve your skillset. Through hands-on experience and work with real companies, you can develop useful and highly sought-after soft skills that will increase your performance, and stand out to future employers:
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Management
- Teamwork
Learn More About Yourself and The Field
Internships introduce you to available roles and functions within the greater world of business. During your time at a company, you may discover a job function that you didn’t even know existed that could turn into your dream job. Additionally, if you’re unsure of what you want to do after college, internships can give you experience in a range of roles and allow you to observe others first-hand. Experience plus observation can help you make your decision.
Bluefield University’s Caudill School of Business offers graduate programs and multiple undergraduate programs, as well as minors and different concentrations to help prepare you for an ethical and service-focused career in business. Our smaller class sizes and well-respected, experienced faculty give you the attention you deserve to grow into a capable business leader. We believe internships are an invaluable part of business training, and have connections with multiple local, digital, and regional professionals. Inquire now for more information.