Why Should You Intern?

Everyone always talks about how you should intern to get your foot in the door and gain some real-world experience, but I think many college students still do not understand the importance of interning. While getting work experience is extremely beneficial, that is not the only reason you should pursue an internship. Interning can help you figure out what exactly you want to do, give your experience in multiple areas and knowledge on computer software.

Interning is extremely beneficial if you’re unsure about what exactly you want to do because you have the opportunity to work in different positions and fields. By doing this you can see what you like or dislike about certain jobs, and help you to figure out what career would best suit you. This is extremely beneficial because not only are you gaining knowledge, but you can find out what you would enjoy doing or what may not be for you. You can go into an internship thinking you want to do marketing but you may find out you actually enjoy creating social media content for a company.

Additionally, another great benefit to interning is that you gain skills and experience in various areas. While your internship may be field-specific, you will most likely end up doing things that are not necessarily in your line of work. I have been working as a writing and journalism intern for a swimwear company, and while my “title” is mainly journalism-related, I have been doing many things outside of that. Not only have I been writing, but I have also been creating social media and website content, prepared marketing for brand ambassadors, and optimizing their website. When you intern you will be able to sharpen your skills in different areas and gain skills outside of your desired field.

Lastly, internships are valuable because you learn how to adapt to and use various websites, software and internet platforms. When you intern you learn how to use the company’s preferred software as well as different websites and even apps. This is helpful because where ever you work it is rare that you will know how to use all of the tools your company requires. So being able to learn quickly and easily adapt to different platforms and websites will better benefit you and make your job easier.

The benefits of internships are unlimited, and even a bad internship encounter can provide you with knowledge and experience. I think it is important for every college student to intern at least once before they graduate. This way they not only get real-world experience and knowledge, but they know how to work and function in a professional setting.