Undergraduate > Internship Services > Benefits of Internships

Undergraduate Students

Benefits of Internships

Students planning to enter the permanent work force should complement their academic preparation with a range of other experiences, such as study abroad, community service, undergraduate research experiences, participation in sports and other student organizations, membership of pre-professional organizations, and internships.

An internship offers you the chance to learn by doing in a setting where you are supervised by a work-place professional, and have the opportunity to achieve your own learning goals, without the responsibilities of being a permanent employee.

Internships can:

• Help you learn about a career field from the inside
• Help you decide if this is the right career field for you
• Enable you to work alongside a professional in your chosen career area
• Give you new skills and add to your knowledge base
• Give you confidence in your own abilities
• Let you apply some of the ideas you've learned in school
• Give you the opportunity to practice your communication and teamwork skills
• Allow you to meet new people and practice your networking skills
• Provide evidence that you have initiative, are reliable and have a sense of responsibility
• Provide a bridge between school and the professional world
• Make a valuable addition to your resume
• Enhance your application to Graduate School
• Open the door to a job offer or a recommendation about the next steps you should take on your career path

Internships, of course, can also be fun!