Internships

On the QT Newsletter, Internships
November 4, 2008
WishObstacle.pdf (26 KB)

Did you know? Today’s highly competitive students have been dubbed the “Intern Generation.” The internship, which was once viewed as optional by college students and as “cheap labor” by corporate America, has taken the front seat as a necessary career builder for today’s college students and as a vital HR tool for employers. Employers consistently name internship programs as one of the most effective tools they have for building their talent pools. Interns bring fresh ideas and technological know-how into the workplace, while employers provide interns with priceless tools and experience for their resumes. Student interns can earn college credit, “test drive” a career field, grow their experience, and make workplace connections. Internships are increasingly required for landing those good jobs. When you talk to students about getting internships, they will invariably bring up obstacles that are keeping them from getting that internship they would love to have. Today’s activity will get students thinking about internship possibilities as they participate in this team problem solving exercise.

Try This:
• To open the discussion, show this 1-minute video clip, Internships: What’s the Deal?
• Ask students questions about their internship experiences.
  Who has had an internship experience?
  How many people want an internship?
  What’s getting in your way of finding an internship?
• Distribute the Wish/Obstacle Internship activity sheet attached and review the instructions, then complete the exercise.
• Bring the class back together and reflect on how team input gave them ideas for overcoming obstacles.
• Assign Get Internships, an online lesson, to give students more information and resources on finding internships.

Add an Experience: While the job market may be slowing down, many companies are increasing their number of internship opportunities. Ask your college’s career center staff when they are holding their career fair and what other career fairs might be going on in your area. Offer students extra credit for attending a career/job fair, collecting three business cards from companies that interest them, and noting one thing they learned on the back of each card. Now is the time students should begin looking for those summer internships.

Quik Quote: School without an internship can get you nowhere. Patrick Combs, author, Major in Success