Anatomy of an Internship
Those who intern during college are more likely to find entry-level jobs within the first six months after graduation. As the nation edges towards a possible recession, internships give students a competitive edge over other’s with the same educational background. With more students participating in such programs, the length of time of the internship chosen and the notoriety of the company interned with will become more important.
For the most part, extended internship programs look better on a resume because they denote more experience. Employers often assume that an extra four weeks spent as an intern can translate into a more prepared worker. Individuals who take on longer internships are also often seen as more dedicated to their own career’s sine they chose to spend more time getting training, that was more than likely unpaid.
Nevertheless, even average length internships can be impressive if the company conducting the program is notable. For the most part, resumes are like advertisement; name recognition matters. Those who are able to land highly coveted internships with industry leading companies will continue to be viewed favorably over those who interned with lesser known businesses.
In order to land more competitive internships, it’s best to being searching six months or more ahead of time. Don’t limit yourself to announcements posted on the internet or made known to campus recruiting efforts, network socially to find out about programs in your area. If you’re unable to find information about a company you’d like to intern with, don’t assume they don’t have a program; that the time to contact them to find out for yourself.
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