Pam Ahearn
Center for Career Development
Have you heard other students talking about their internship last summer? Has someone told you that internships are important but you aren’t sure why? Were you planning to return to your summer job next summer? You aren’t alone. Many students are unclear about the purpose and importance of internships. Let’s dig in here!
First, what is an internship? As defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is a “form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting.” An internship provides an opportunity to work in an industry, helps clarify your career interests and allows you to gain skills that employers seek in candidates. Internships can be in-person, remote or hybrid. As your classmate Alana Baldar ‘24 says about her internship at Catholic Health Services Mercy Hospital, “Internships are a great way to truly know what career path you want to go into. They help you so much in determining what direction you want to go in for your future.”
The reality is that most employers expect students to have internship experience on their resume. Students with internship experience sharpen many of the skills that employers seek such as communication, leadership, problem solving, teamwork and time management. Many employers won’t hire a student who has not participated in at least one internship during their time at the College and many look for students with multiple experiential learning opportunities including internships, study abroad, community based learning (CBL), research or trial teams.
When should you participate in an internship? Where do you find internship opportunities and are they paid? Traditionally, junior year is the target year for college students to complete an internship. At Holy Cross this could mean during the academic year through the Washington Semester Program which has an internship component; through the Academic Internship Program whereby you intern for 7-10 hours a week during the fall or spring semester; or during the summer following junior year. Many students also seek internship opportunities the summer after sophomore year in order to clarify their career interests, hone skills and increase their marketability to prospective employers. It’s never too early to explore experiential learning opportunities.
It’s important to identify industries of interest and understand recruiting timelines so you can focus your internship search at the appropriate time of year. For some industries, like consulting, finance, insurance, federal government and technology, you will see many deadlines during the fall semester. Keep an open mind and explore a variety of internship opportunities using Handshake in addition to exploring the career section of target organizations’ websites. Here’s what your peers had to say after completing their own internship:
“My first piece of advice regarding internships is to seek opportunities that align not just with your academic background but also with your personal interests and values. The more passionate you are about the work you’re doing, the more rewarding and enriching the experience will be.” — Mingyu Liu ‘24, NotoVox.
“I would say the best thing to do is cast a wide net at things you are interested in, but also to consider every opportunity that you are presented with, even if you aren’t immediately drawn to it.” — Tyler Peterson ‘25, Angela Alsobrooks for US Senate.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new! Internships aren’t only a way to build your resume but to explore career opportunities that you wouldn’t have considered pursuing otherwise.” — Elizabeth Fier ‘24, The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester.
Many internships are paid, which means you can gain crucial experience while making money. Typically paid internships will pay minimum wage or higher. Usually internships in the non-profit and government sectors are unpaid, but please don’t let that deter you from applying. You can apply for summer internship funding through the Center for Career Development’s Crusader Internship Fund. Funding is limited and Holy Cross students can receive summer internship funding once at Holy Cross. The Crusader Internship Fund begins accepting applications January 8, 2024.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked reasons for doing an internship is to expand your professional network and enhance your social capital. Let’s face it, not everyone has professional connections in a variety of fields. When you do an internship you are exposed to people at all levels of an organization and you are working closely with people who may be in a position to hire you in the future. These connections, when cultivated, can lead to additional connections, opportunities, and future job leads. As Shannon McCluskey ‘25 said about her internship at Fundraise4U, “My most impactful experience this summer was my mentorship calls. I heard such great advice from professionals that I know will help me when applying to future positions.”
Copy edited by Colette Potter
Featured Image Courtesy of Shutterstock
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