An internship will allow you to explore different fields of work, help you gain work skills, expand on what you have learned at The University of Michigan, and assist you in making important professional contacts.
Explore Career Options
Internships are an opportunity for trial-and-error. The opportunity to work in a field that is intriguing to you without having to commit more than a few months to the company is an amazing chance for any college student. Interns from the University of Michigan have worked with companies from all over the world to see what their field of interest is like. Do you like non-profits, or are you more interested in the for-profit sector? Interested in research, or do you want to work in the public relations department? An internship will help you decide what to do with your post-graduate life. Apply Classroom Learning
An internship will not only build up your resume, but it can also build on your coursework. An internship that aligns with your major will allow you to use the facts and figures that you spent so long studying for during the semester and may also teach you a thing or two that you couldn't learn in a classroom. Course credit is also an option for interns. Some programs require students to write papers about their experience or keep a blog throughout their job. Students can either seek academic credit through their home department in LSA, talk to their advisor if they are in a different college at Michigan, complete an independent study, or enroll in UC 225, a class that specializes in allowing students to get course credit for internships. Students can find more information on this at the Career Center website: http://careercenter.umich.edu/article/securing-academic-credit-internship |
Gain Professional Skills
Does your resume seem blank or could it use some improvement? An internship that fits with your major could be just the boost you need to make your resume stand out to future employers. Work at a company that is continuous with your past experiences and expands your story that you're presenting to employers. It may just be the differentiating factor between yourself and another otherwise equally qualified job seeker. Additionally, if you work hard at your job, your company may just keep you on past the terms of your internship. You can better your chances of receiving a position from your internship by showing your company that you're committed to furthering their brand. Lastly, don't just get caught up in a company's name. Sometimes smaller companies and start-ups provide interns with substantially more work than a traditional internship and greatly expand the skill-set of their interns. Find out how the internship will benefit you beforehand and what you'll be expected to do so that you can decide which company will be the best fit. Establish Connections and Build a Network
If you didn't start out with a lot of professional connections when you entered college, don't fret! An internship is the perfect way to expand your professional network. Attend company meetings, let your co-workers know your career interests, and find a mentor within the company. All of these things will expose you to people beyond your particular company that can help you build your contacts in your intended post-graduate field and will provide you with invaluable advice and expertise. |
Need more convincing? See why fellow wolverines interned and how much they got out of the experience here.