There are many professionals in the labor market who started as interns and they grew up to a point in which they became permanent employees, so the answer is Yes, they are a good way to begin a career. However, a number of college students and young job seekers in Trinidad and Tobago eschew the opportunity to take on an internship. As many of these positions are either unpaid or pay token sums, it is only natural for an employee to think: “What’s in it for me?” The answer is simple: Experience!
6 Reasons why you should start looking for an INTERNSHIP JOB OPPORTUNITY!
No matter how awesome your grades are in college, you could miss out on a job because the employer prefers someone with actual experience in the role. After all, practice is always better than theory in the workplace. Over in the United States, up to 64 percent of graduates take on an internship before leaving college; here are 6 reasons why it’s a good idea.
1 – AN INTERNSHIP WILL GIVE YOU WITH REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
This is always the #1 reason to grab an internship opportunity with both hands. Regardless of what you learn in the classroom, it can never fully prepare you for the big, bad world. As an intern, you finally get to use and harness the knowledge and skills you learned in college and improve upon what you already know.
Don’t believe the nonsense you hear about interns spending their days as a ‘gopher’ that does little more than photocopy and make coffee. You will go to meetings, participate in events and work on important projects. Above all, you’ll understand what it feels like to work under pressure; this is the kind of experience that helps you develop. By the end of your internship, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether you’re in the right industry.
2 – RESUME ENHANCEMENT
As probably know by now, your resume is your greatest marketing tool when it comes to finding employment in Trinidad and Tobago. Its primary goal is to get you in an interview room where you can work your magic, impress the interviewing panel and land the role. The ‘Work Experience’ section is the most important part of any resume.
Again, you can graduate with impressive grades from college, but a lack of experience will place you firmly at the back of any employment queue. An internship is one of the best ways to solve the whole ‘the company only hires people with experience, and I have none, how do I get some?” conundrum.
Most employers are impressed by candidates with experience as an intern as it displays a keen desire to gain experience; especially since the person in question was probably doing it for free. As well as showing desire, an internship ensures you gain important skills and abilities which improve you as a professional. It looks great on a resume and massively increases your chances of at least landing an interview.
3 – YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF
As well as encouraging professional development, internships help you understand yourself a whole lot better. This knowledge allows you to develop goals and most people only learn about themselves when they are forced to operate outside their comfort zones. For instance, do you have any idea how you react under pressure? An internship or a temporary part-time job opportunity will probably give you a definitive answer.
If you are a Business Marketing student, for example, an internship can help you ascertain whether your idea of the industry matches the reality. You wouldn’t be the first person to be disappointed with their choice of career after an internship. Fortunately, you have plenty of time to make a change. It is better to find out sooner rather than later!
4 – DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
The purpose of networking is to establish professional relationships and acquaintances that will serve you well throughout your career. Although you can network at certain one-day events, it offers nothing like the kind of access an internship provides you with. When you have daily interactions with employees in an organization, it is much easier to develop a rapport. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet the ‘right people’ within a company. This could make the process of finding a permanent full-time role a lot easier. Remember, life is unpredictable so create and print out a business card; you never know who you might meet.
5 – AN UNDERSTANDING OF OFFICE CULTURE
Hopefully, you don’t allow TV shows such as ‘The Office’ color your perceptions of what it’s really like to work in an office environment. Each company has its own culture, and it is something you’ll never learn about in a classroom. For example, some organizations prefer cubicles while others have more open environments. An internship can quickly help you determine which one you prefer. You’ll learn what it takes to impress the boss and perhaps pick up a thing or two that helps you become a popular staff member.
6 – IT HELPS YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO THE WORKPLACE
If you land a full-time role without an internship after graduating, the experience will probably come as a shock to the system. There are a number of disadvantages associated with taking a job as a graduate. For example, you are vulnerable to a company’s ‘last in, first out’ policy. As you’re in a new environment, the pressure can be overwhelming and not every manager is willing to give you the time to develop.
An internship gives you the benefit of work experience so when you finally move into a full-time role; the transition will be a lot smoother. As an intern, you saw what was behind the curtain, handled the pressure of deadlines and came out on the other side as a vastly improved professional.
Showcase your skills
When you take on an internship, you get the chance to showcase your skills, abilities, and commitment to prospective employers. If the company you intern for has openings and you impress it enough during your time in its offices, it is far more likely to give you the opportunity to become a permanent employee than someone coming in off the street.
Since the company has already invested time and energy during your internship, it makes financial sense for it to hire you. Also, you increase your contact list, boost your resume, learn about office culture and most importantly, understand what it’s like to work in the real world.
