Internship Goals: Yours and Your Employers
A great internship provides the knowledge and skills you’ll need to become successful in a specific career field. The best internship experiences are those that prepare students for the work they hope to do after graduating from college. Employers seek employees who have the experience required to start out in a new field. Employers also welcome new employees who have already had exposure to the field and understand the type of work they will be doing once they are hired. Employers spend a great deal of time and money on training their new employees, and they know that they can eliminate a lot of this time by hiring someone with previous knowledge and experience.
The Importance of Mentorship
Interns who are teamed up with a mentor within the company are most likely the ones who will best learn about the organization’s culture. Your mentor may also be in a position to help you be recognized by senior management. Ultimately, a strong mentor will help you identify career goals, along with some coaching on the day-to-day. In addition to the knowledge and skills employers look for in new candidates, people who get along and understand the organization’s culture are often seen as top candidates for any full-time jobs that open up. Often employers feel that they can teach the basics of an entry-level job, but they can’t teach a new employee how to fit into a culture that’s already been established.
Making Professional Connections
Internships that provide opportunities to meet a large number of professionals currently working in the field give students the chance to make important professional connections that can last a lifetime. Since networking is a sound job search strategy, the chance to meet professionals both in and outside of the organization where you’re interning can be most valuable as you begin your job search as you get closer to graduation. Take the opportunity to discuss your future goals with professionals in the field in hopes of including them in your own personal network.
Additional Benefits and Perks
Internships that pay well and offer benefits and perks are often seen as dream internships that everyone strives for. There are many organizations that pay interns well, in addition to offering them some benefits that full-time employees have, including health and dental. Some organizations offer a variety of perks, too, such as concert tickets, networking receptions, gym memberships, and more.
The Bottom Line
By creating internship and individual career goals, you will be able to find the right internship for you. One person’s perfect internship is usually not the same for others who have their own set of personal goals and expectations.
