Take that Internship!

Internships can be a scary process. You're used to working a minimum wage job that took no experience to get, and if you're lucky, you moved up the ladder and got a 50 cent raise. If that's how you want to spend the rest of your life then by all means go ahead and keep doing what your doing. If that doesn't sound like how you want your career to end up then it's time to put what you've learned in school to the test and apply some of that knowledge. Sure, you might have to quit that job you have and throw yourself back into the pond to have a chance at getting a job that hundreds are applying for.

So why do it?

Internships give you that valuable experience that is directly related to your career. I guarentee you'll get more experience with a short internship in your related field than you would by working at a random job for years.

Internships aren't just a notch on your resume; they show future employers that you have the ability to learn quickly and adapt to a business. Summer internships can be as short as 2-3 months so the initial learning period will be very short, and businesses will expect you to catch on quickly. Future employers will also expect you to catch on quickly because they don't have the time or resources to spend training new employees.

Supervisors for your minimum wage job will be good references to speak on your character as a person, but how good will they be on speaking about your qualifications for the job? Future employers WILL call your past supervisor to ask all kinds of questions about you. (Stop showing up late for work!) Taking an internship gives you credible references that you know can say great things about how you were as an employee.

These are just some of the reasons why internships are essential to your career. If you're ever struggling over keeping your job or taking an internhsip… go with the internship!

- Advantages an internship gives you over others -

1.) You gain valuable career experience.

2.) It shows you can learn quickly.

3.) Internships give you credible references. 

4.) Colleges might give you course credit.

            My marketing internship counted as a marketing elective! Anything beats sitting in class… 

5.) Great networking opportunities.

6.) Develop new skills and experiences. 

7.) GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.