What Is An Internship?
An internship is a great way to gain valuable experience and build your resume. Internships allow you to:
- Gain insight on your career goals
- Test out different work environments
- Build your resume and develop industry-specific skills
- Shape and grow your professional network
- Practice the job search process
At the University of Rochester an internship is defined as: “a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.” (National Association of Colleges and Employers)
What qualifies as an internship?
An internship must:
- Be supervised by a professional within the organization you work for
- Serve PRIMARILY as a learning experience for you
- Have clearly defined duties and activities agreed upon by you and the employer
- Include an analytical or reflective component (“See How to Make the Most of Your Internship” section below)
- Assist you in progressing toward a professional or exploratory career goal
- Comply with all relevant employment laws and statues; you do not give up your rights as an employee due to your student status
- If for academic credit – Is supervised by a faculty or staff member within the University
An internship should:
- Take place in a professional setting (adequately structured remote experiences can also be internships)
- Have clear expectations and evaluation processes provided by the employer
- Assist you in delineating a career path from the internship forward
- Encourage you to develop college competencies, including: Intercultural & Global Fluency, Career Design & Management, Leadership, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Teamwork, Adaptability & Resiliency, Oral & Written Communication