Why Do an Internship During College?

Internships are temporary jobs that provide an opportunity to gain entry-level work experience — and can be an invaluable steppingstone to a new career.
People who work in internships, or interns, often are college students preparing for their first professional role, but they also can be people who are changing careers.
While interns can gain a variety of advantages from internships, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from the experience. Employers often find talented employees among their interns.
In fact, if you’re wondering why to do an internship during college, consider this: According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) report, 66% of students who completed internships in 2020 became full-time employees at the companies where they interned. In addition, NACE reports that employers aim to hire at least 50% of interns as full-time employees.
Opportunities for career advancement are just one of the many benefits of completing internships during college.
How Long Are Internships?
Types of Internships
Paid Internships
Unpaid Internships
Internships Abroad
Cooperative Education (Co-Ops)
Externships
Other Factors Affecting Internship Length
In addition to the type of internship, other factors can help determine how long internships are.
- Timing of the job opening. A company might have a set time frame for when it will need assistance, scheduling an internship to coincide with that work.
- Corporate budget. Especially in the case of paid internships, the amount of money a business budgets to fund internships can dictate the length of time the position will be available.
- Organizational goals. A company that wants to provide an intern with an in-depth look at a career field likely will offer a longer internship, while a company whose goal is to offer a quick introduction to the industry may offer a shorter one.
- Cost to the intern. In the case of unpaid internships, the cost to the student may limit the amount of time they can afford to spend in the role.
- Student availability. Interns who still are in school must time their participation around their academic schedules, while recent graduates may have more flexibility.
Are Unpaid Internships Worth It?
Another aspect to consider when thinking about why to do an internship during college is whether pursuing an unpaid internship makes sense. Employment website Indeed reports that most interns with Fortune 500 companies and in the private sector are employees who receive pay. Some of the fields that typically offer paid internships are:
- Accounting
- Advertising
- Banking
- Information technology
- Public relations
However, the DOL allows companies to offer unpaid internships under certain circumstances, and these unpaid roles are common. According to the NACE survey, more than 40% of U.S. internships are unpaid. Despite the lack of compensation provided, unpaid internships offer benefits that you should weigh when deciding whether unpaid internships are worth it.
The Primary Beneficiary Test
When evaluating whether to pursue an unpaid internship, a first step entails noting the requirements for these unpaid positions to ensure that the company is offering the unpaid role lawfully. The DOL permits unpaid internships for public sector and nonprofit organizations, as long as the intern has no expectation of compensation.
In the case of for-profit companies, the DOL uses the “primary beneficiary test,” based on the seven guidelines below, to determine whether an intern is exempt from employee status and may be an unpaid intern.
- The intern must be aware they will not receive pay.
- The on-the-job training must be comparable to that from an educational institution.
- The internship should correspond to the intern’s educational program or provide academic credit.
- The program should accommodate the intern’s academic calendar.
- The length of the internship should correspond to the amount of time required for useful learning.
- The intern’s work should provide beneficial experience while complementing the work of an existing employee.
- The company should clearly communicate that the internship offers no guarantee of a permanent job following the program.
Benefits of Unpaid Internships
Experience
Networking
Where to Find Internships
Resources for an Internship Search
University Career Services Office
Personal Networks
Social Media
Other Online Sources
Whether simply doing a browser search for internship opportunities in a certain geographical area or leveraging internship tools, using other online sources is another option for where to find internships. Internship finders include:
Job Boards
Career Fairs
Hiring Managers
Selecting 10 to 20 companies of interest and reaching out to their hiring managers is another option for where to find internships. When reaching out directly to businesses, be prepared to briefly describe the value you could provide, and take the opportunity to interview the company representative about their work.
Remember, not all internship opportunities require in-person attendance, so confining an internship search to a specific location is not always necessary. In fact, 72% of internships included in the NACE survey in 2020 were conducted remotely as the nation grappled with restrictions related to COVID-19.
Tips for a Successful Internship Search
Be Timely
Identify Interests
Create an Impactful Resume
Benefits of Internships in College
How Internships Benefit Students
Internships in college can be a critical part of a student’s education and preparation for a new career or a career change. For example, interns can benefit by:
- Gaining work experience. Internships expose students to the workplace environment and offer experience in their chosen fields. You might even have the opportunity to put your own research or other classwork to use on the job.
- Developing soft skills. Day-to-day interaction with others on work projects can help interns develop important interpersonal skills, such as time management and leadership.
- Resume building. Gaining workplace experience is an asset when writing a resume. Internships allow you to list specific knowledge and skills you used in the workplace.
- Making connections. The workplace connections gained during an internship can be a good source of mentoring, connections to opportunities, and recommendations for jobs.
- Evaluating a career choice. Internships in college provide an up-close look at work in your chosen field, without requiring commitment to a permanent role. Learning more about a job can help you build confidence and establish career goals.
- Earning a job. Interns who prove themselves to be quick learners and hard workers can gain an advantage for permanent roles with that company after the internship ends.
How Internships Benefit Companies
Interns also can be assets for the companies where they work. Organizations that offer internships benefit by:
- Increasing their visibility. Companies that hire interns can foster relationships with the universities those students attend, strengthening an important talent pipeline. They also give back to the community by helping to develop its workforce.
- Finding future employees. Not only can internships help employers expand their talent pool, but they also can be a proving ground for interns who show potential as future employees.
- Increasing corporate productivity. Interns can provide an additional pair of hands for projects that need the extra help.
- Gaining a different perspective. Bringing new people to a team provides diverse thinking, strengths, and skills in activities such as brainstorming sessions.
Take the Brave Step That Can Jump-Start Your Career
Completing an internship during college, whether paid or unpaid, provides a host of benefits, not only for students but also for the organizations that enlist their help. For college students, internships offer valuable experience, opportunities for skill development, and networking connections — and might even lead to a permanent job or career change.
If you’re ready to earn a degree or certificate that can help you pursue your goals as an intern and professional, explore Maryville University. With online bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the workplace — while offering the convenience and flexibility of an online education — Maryville can inspire the courage you need to take the brave step toward a new career.
Sources
The Balance Careers, “8 Ways to Find an Internship”
The Balance Careers, “The Benefits of Hiring an Intern”
The Balance Careers, “How to Optimize Your Job Search Using LinkedIn”
The Balance Careers, “What Are Interns and Internships?”
Business Insider, “Over 40% of Interns Are Still Unpaid Because of This Legal Loophole”
Capital Placement, “Paid Internships vs. Unpaid Internships”
Chegg Internships, “14 Benefits of Starting an Internship Program for Your Company”
CompareCamp, “98 Internship Statistics: 2020/2021 Data, Trends, & Predictions”
Indeed Career Guide, “10 Benefits of Doing an Internship”
Indeed Career Guide, “The Benefits of Doing an Unpaid Internship”
Indeed Career Guide, “Do Interns Get Paid?”
Indeed Career Guide, “What Is the Difference Between a Co-Op and an Internship?”
Justworks, “So You Want to Pay Your Interns: A Guide to Paid Internships”
National Association of Colleges and Employers, “2021 Internship & Co-Op Survey Report”
Tallo, “How Long Are Internships?”
U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet 71: Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Zety, “How to Get an Internship: Where to Find & Land Internships”