Internships are an opportunistic way to introduce yourself to the working world. Internships allow you to do work in the field you are interested in getting into, before you actually graduate college and decide whether or not that career is a match or not.
Most college administrations would agree that the best thing to do before you graduate college would be to get an internship in the field you are studying for. Each college throughout the nation has an office, and more importantly, a coordinator, for all information on internships; they can help you with choosing an internship, getting an internship, and possibly getting hired from that internship. Basically, an internship is a method of on-the-job training for white collar and professional careers. Internships for professional careers are similar to apprenticeships for trade and vocational jobs.
Talking to the coordinator at the college campus office does not guarantee you a spot with the employer you would like to intern for. It is suggested that college students have an average of two to four internships before they graduate and head into the workplace. When applying for an internship, much like a job, you should set goals for yourself.
The University of Arizona (UA) Internship Coordinator Analisa Arroyo says, “It is best to come talk to us and tell us what you are interested in, and then let us find the internship.[We] can find internships that you’ve probably never heard of.”
The UA, along with Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University, supports programs that are designated to help find you an internship. Each university has a coordinator that is willing to help find the right internship for each degree. Along with an overall office, most degrees have a coordinator for internships, making it easier to find an internship that suits your major.
Another form of internships would be student teaching. Most colleges require that you have some experience as a student teacher before they award you your degree in teaching. Colleges will request that you head over to the local school, elementary through high school, and volunteer to be a student teacher.
Internships are an overall great way to experience the field in which you want to engage in.
