Why Do Companies Require You Go Back to School After an Internship

10 Reasons Why An Internship is Important to All Students

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Our economy changes daily, and with it, the talents, skills, and experience needed to be a part of that growth cycle change with it. The job market is competitive, and it can be a tough learning curve for recent graduates. Applied learning and internship opportunities are becoming a key part of the college experience for all students to meet the demand.

What is an Internship?

Dictionary.com defines an internship as "any official or formal program to provide practical experience for beginners in an occupation or profession." The most important element of internships is the integration of classroom knowledge and theory with practical application and skills. Student interns gain this experience in either professional or community settings. Internships also have the added benefit of professional recommendations, resume-worthy experience, and networking opportunities.

Internships and Applied Learning Stats

• In the 2019-2020 academic year, 105,010 matriculate students participated in 26,127 applied learning course sections
• 40% of SUNY programs have an applied learning component
• Approximately 18% of employers offer interns full-time jobs
• Students who have done an internship are 15% less likely to be unemployed in the first years after college and earn 6% more than students who did not

More and more opportunities are coming along every day, providing students with experiences that can lead to personal and professional growth. To further support the participation in and benefit of being an intern, we put together a list of reasons why all students should take part in their own internship.

10 Reasons Why You Need an Internship

1. Application of education and career exploration.
   Internships are a great way to connect classroom knowledge to real-world experience. Learning is one thing, but taking those skills into the workforce and applying them is a great way to explore different career paths and specializations that suit individual interests.
2. Gain experience and increase marketability.
   Having an internship gives you experience in the career field you want to pursue. Not only does this give individuals an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs, but it also prepares them for what to expect in their field and increases confidence in their work.
3. Networking.
   Having an internship benefits you in the working environment, and it also builds your professional network. There is a 1 in 16 chance of securing a job by connecting with people, so networking is critical. Internships provide a great environment to meet professionals in the career field you want to pursue, as well as other interns who have similar interests.
4. National Data.
   According to a 2016 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, more than 56 percent of graduating seniors reported taking part in at least one internship. Of those respondents, 56 percent were paid, while 44 percent were unpaid. Seventy-two percent of those unpaid internships were credit-bearing.
5. Professionalism.
   Internships can provide students with the soft skills needed in the workplace and in leadership positions. In a LinkedIn Skills Report (2018), 57% of people rated soft skills as being more important than technical skills. Skills, such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork can all be learned through an internship and utilized beyond that experience.
6. Learn how a professional workplace operates.
   Depending on your major, you may read about how organizations thrive and function in textbooks, hear from guest speakers who talk about organizational structures or dive into case studies about workplace culture, but nothing compares to living the actual experience. Internships help students learn all about workplace culture, employee relations, and leadership structure, which should help them on board in their first professional job with more ease than if they haven't had professional experience.
7. Build your resume.
   Most organizations and jobs that you apply to the following graduation want employees to have some sort of professional experience, even for entry-level jobs. If you are a finalist for a position and haven't had an internship experience but the other finalist has, you may lose out on a job opportunity, so make sure you at least have one internship on your resume before leaving college to give you a leg up on the competition.
8. Gain professional feedback.
   Not only will you be helping out the organization you intern with, but they'll help you out too. While professors and teachers will prepare you for the theoretical side of your field and hands-on projects, internships provide opportunities for receiving feedback from someone who works in your desired field daily.
9. Learn fromothers.
   It might seem common sense – you're interning to learn skills, after all – but don't forget to purposefully observe others in their job role to learn the ins and outs of different positions. Consider asking your supervisor if you can shadow them for a day, along with other people in your department. Ask to sit in on departmentwide meetings as well. Act like a sponge and soak up all the information you can during your internship – it will benefit you in the long run.
10. Figure out what you like and don't like.
    While everyone probably wants to walk away from an internship feeling excited and passionate about the experience, there's a silver lining to be found if you didn't enjoy the job: you'll know what you don't like. According to an article from monster.com, "figuring out what type of job youdon't wantwhile you're interning can help prevent you from accepting an ill-fitting job when you graduate."

How do you get an internship?

A few tips will help you search for an land an internship.

• If you are a new student, find a degree program that fits your career aspirations.
• Think about your degree path and the common jobs associated with it. Start to do your research on those jobs and the places where those graduates work.
• Write down exciting career choices and interests to develop a variety of options.
• Visit job sites and career fairs.
• Look at what is available on campus.
• Head over to the career services office on your college campus for professional help with resume writing and finding an internship.

Were you an intern in college? Share your story with SUNY.

updated: 12/2021

Written by Julie Maio

Julie is the assistant director for student mental health and wellness for SUNY System Administration.

June 29, 2018

Tags: applied learning, career services, intern, Internship

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Why Do Companies Require You Go Back to School After an Internship

Source: https://blog.suny.edu/2018/06/10-reasons-why-an-internship-is-important-to-all-students/