Internships are work-related professional learning experiences that give students, new graduates, and career changers with a chance to gain significant knowledge and skills in a career related field. As a career builder, internship myths are a chance to gain exposure to career fields of interest without making a permanent commitment. There are several resources available for finding an internship, involving internship online databases, books such as the Internship Bible, classified ads, networking with professionals and alumni from your college, etc.

Many agencies use internship myths as a way to assess and train potential applicants for jobs. Internships are an outstanding way to gain experience in a career field of interest as well as a chance to try out one or more careers by getting a behind the scenes look at what it is really like working in the field. Students will often do several internships to give them exposure to a variety of related jobs or even to check out several careers of interest.

When to Start Searching for Internships

The answer to this query is as soon as possible. It is significant to permit enough time to locate and apply for good internships. For internships in finance, government, publishing, etc., several of the deadlines to apply for summer internships can be as early as November. Internship myths are becoming more famous for students still in high school as well. Students who start doing internships after their first year of college are capable to complete several different internship myths which ultimately provide them with a wide range of experiences and make them more appealing to employers.

Where to Locate Internships

Working with a career counselor, speaking with faculty and/or college alumni, reviewing career resources, checking out the classified ads to prospect for potential interviewers, and conducting Informational Interviews with alumni or experts in the field are all outstanding places to begin finding what internships are available.

There is much internship offered online through internship sites such as MonsterTRAK, Internships USA, Internships.com, etc. Check with your Career Center to see if they subscribe to any of these resources. Completing a thorough self-assessment will also assist to recognize key knowledge, skills, interests, and personality traits that are relevant to a particular internship or job.

The Kinds of Internships are Available

Internships are available in a broad variety of fields from both the private and not-for-profit sectors of the job market. Internships might be paid or unpaid, for credit or not-for-credit, and may be pursued spring, summer, or fall.

The Advantage of Doing an Internship for Credit:

There are several rewarding and worthwhile internship myths available and few of these can be linked straightly with college coursework. Working directly with an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor can give a rich learning experience that involves additional reading, writing, etc., on the subject in addition to the experiential learning that takes place each day on the internship. It is not essential to do an internship for credit in case to get a precious internship experience.

Main Difference between Internship for Credit and One That is Not

To get credit for an internship, students will require completing little number of hours at the internship site depending on the internship guidelines of the college.

It is vital to check out a college’s guidelines prior to doing an internship for credit. Usually, colleges need extra work be completed and students must meet particular criteria designated by a faculty member who will also act as the internship sponsor.

Internships not completed for credit are basically an agreement between the employer and the student. There is no formal contract in place and there is more room for flexibility. There also is no minimum number of hours to be completed for the internship.

Top Key Internship Myths

• Internships Not Completed for Credit are Not as Precious: However it is true that internships for credit are involved on a college transcript, employers are searching for candidates who possess the relevant qualities and experience to do the job and who already have exposure to the field and know that they are interested. Resumes commonly don’t distinguish between internships completed for credit and those which aren’t.
• Unpaid Internships or Volunteer Experiences Can’t be Involved on a Resume: All experiences related to a specific internship or job can be included on a resume. As a student, relevant coursework, co-curricular activities, community services, volunteer experiences, and previous internships and jobs can also be included on a resume. Again, it is the relevant skills and experience that employers are looking for.
• All Internships Completed for Credit Must be Unpaid: College credit is granted by the academic institution and it does not prohibit employers from paying interns a fair wage or stipend. Colleges generally encourage and support employers to pay for work completed regardless if it’s being done for credit or not. Students interested in receiving credit for an internship will often do one or more internships for credit during fall and/or spring semester and then do a not-for-credit internship during summer break.
• There is no Difference Between Doing an Internship During Fall or Spring Semester or Doing an Internship for Summer: Usually colleges require that students pay tuition for summer internships for credit. The amount will depend on the number of credits received and the costs associated with credit at a particular college. Internships completed during fall or spring semester usually are rolled into the regular tuition.
• What is the Difference Between Doing a Summer Internship and Working at a Summer Job: Ultimately internships should include some form of training along with direct supervision of the work involved. The purpose of an internship is to introduce and train for a particular job or gain experience in a particular career field. Summer jobs are done mainly for compensation and usually include more of an entry-level position such as cashiers, lifeguards, ride attendants, camp counselors, or working at a retail store, restaurant or resort.