So how does one get work experience? The answer is through an internship. An internship provides you with the opportunity to learn firsthand about a company or organization by working for it on a short-term basis. The exposure helps you decide if the field is right for you. An internship also provides you with professional work experience, which will help you pursue a permanent position. Finally, an internship helps you make contacts. If you got along well with your supervisor, he or she might be willing to help you find a permanent job, write you a recommendation or even hire you permanently.
Internships vary a great deal. Some are paid; others provide a small stipend or commuting expenses; some pay nothing. They are available for periods as short as a four-week winter break from college or for up to a year or two. Internships are filled by high-school, college and graduate students and, increasingly, by older people reentering the workforce or changing careers.
Some organizations sponsor formal internship programs and take a set number of interns each term, train them and give them specific tasks. Other firms may take interns for a specific project. A few companies hire interns and let them provide help where they see a need. In general, a more structured internship provides more responsibility and a better learning experience than one in which duties or supervisors are unspecified.
Some companies take interns as part of their recruiting process and may hire former interns as permanent employees. Other companies are only interested in getting some temporary help. An internship should be a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship. The company should benefit from the work of the intern. The intern should gain experience and exposure to the firm's work.
Internship Etiquette
In an internship you must display initiative: ask for projects that you can work on, volunteer your services to staff members, be helpful around the office. Each internship situation varies, however, and in some, your supervisor may not appreciate your doing someone else's work. Like a guest in someone's house, be courteous and get to know your surroundings before volunteering for additional chores. Be careful to listen to and follow your supervisor's instructions. One reason some organizations are wary of taking interns is that they can cause more harm than good if they fail to follow instructions.
Interns' jobs run the gamut from clerical work to aiding staff on a variety of stimulating projects. Before accepting an internship, it is wise to find out what work is available and what is expected of you. With the help of your supervisor, you might write down your learning goals. This would identify your interests for your supervisor and help him or her assign work to you. Make clear that you welcome criticism. This is the only way you will learn to do a better job.
Many colleges and graduate schools offer credit for one- or two-day-a-week internships during the fall or spring semesters. Other schools give credit for summer internships, which are usually full-time positions. Before you decide on an internship, find out what your school expects of you and make sure your employer understands this. A student receiving credit should write learning goals with the help of his or her school's intern coordinator and supervisor.
Finally, many internships are unsalaried, but this does not mean they "don't pay." The experience, the opportunity to test a field, the contacts and supervisors' references are all valuable. You need not fear that taking an unpaid internship carries less prestige than a paid one. It doesn't. If you must earn money, look for a paying internship—but be warned that these are harder to find—or get a second job. Most supervisors are flexible if interns need to hold down a second, paying job. Think about living at home or with a relative in order to save money. And ask if the company will pay for your transportation or lunches.
Interning in International Fields
In some fields an internship is a virtual prerequisite for employment. In journalism, summer jobs and even work during the term are very important for getting a permanent position. Most students in law, business and public policy graduate programs hold paid summer internships; and companies often use the intern pool to recruit permanent staff. In some nonprofit work, especially research and education, population and youth-related work, so many applicants have internships that those without are not considered serious candidates.
Internships in banking, finance and some business fields are less important because many companies offer training programs. But because intern-ships show you have initiative and drive, they are useful in getting into a training program, which can otherwise be difficult. Businesses are most interested in hiring staff who are competent and will work hard. Any work experience you have will help convince employers of your potential.
It is often difficult to find internships in the international departments of businesses. You are encouraged to try, but do not be disappointed if you have to settle for an internship on the domestic side. Later on you can get into international work.
For positions in the United Nations and related organizations, previous professional experience is essential. The same holds true for the field of development assistance. Nevertheless, internships are a good way to get experience in these difficult-to-enter fields.
