There is a reason that over 18,000 people a month google internships near me. In this article I explain just 9 of the reasons you should absolutely, categorically consider undertaking an internship. I also offer easy steps to find the best internships near you.
But first, let’s look at why internships are super popular and a great way to kick off some work experience at the start of your dream career.
9 reasons you should consider an internship
Internships are becoming increasingly popular across a super wide range of industries and role types. An internship is an opportunity offered by an employer to potential employees, called interns, to work at a business for a fixed period of time.
Internships are also sometimes offered as a part time arrangement whilst you are at university or offered as a full time role during university breaks.
Interns are usually undergraduates or students, and most internships last between a month and three months.
Internships might happen in your own country or abroad (overseas). They can be undertaken in person or virtually (online) but in person internships are the most common.
Here are the top 9 reasons you should consider an internship with reputable employers without question:
Access valuable professional contacts…some for life!
Internships provide you with an opportunity to meet many different people within the one company. Each time you meet a new person, you are creating an impression with a future advocate, referrer, hirer, referee or trusted advisor.
There are now so many ways to stay in touch digitally after an internship (LinkedIn, email, social media channels etc) which means you are likely to remain connected with many of these people well into your career. Some may even become career mentors.
Learn about your preferred industry and those who work within it
When you choose an internship closely aligned with your study and passions, you will learn so much. Not only will you learn from those around you and what their roles entail, but you will gain insight into the industry as a whole, including the key factors that drive it.
This learning is something you simply cannot get from theoretical learning alone. It is invaluable experience.
Get insights into a career in this sector
One the best aspects of being an intern is your opportunity to see various roles in action within the one company. An internship will provide insights into who does what within the company. It will also help you to see what a typical day or week for each role type looks like.
This can be really powerful, especially when you are still deciding the exact direction you want your career to take.
Gain competitive advantage when applying for other roles
Undertaking an internship will help you gain work experience that not all graduates and candidates will have access to. This puts you ahead of the pack when it comes to future job applications.
Putting an internship on your resume shows that you are driven and determined to be successful in your chosen field. It can also speed track you to the top of the applications pile!
Potential access to future full time roles
Yep. Play your cards right and you might just get offered a full time role at the end of your studies with the company you have interned with.
The truth is that often companies use internships as a recruitment tool. Employers use this opportunity to see if you have what it takes to be a future employee.
Those who add value, ask intelligent questions and genuinely embrace the learning opportunity of an internship are often rewarded with a more permanent role down the track.
Now that’s the sort of opportunity everyone should be putting their hand up for.
Create ready made case studies and observations for your future studies
There is nothing like real world experience to motivate you with your studies. Seeing a workplace in action provides so much inspiration for future assignments and course projects.
After an internship, you won’t need to rely on theory alone when turning in further assignments and projects. Instead you will be able to incorporate some of your key observations from your intern work experience to enhance your theoretical work and learning moving forward.
Put the theory of your course into action
Being able to try out different work methods and theories in a workplace is so rewarding. Whilst course content is theoretically sound, there is nothing better than seeing those theories, strategies and processes play out in real life scenarios.
An internship gives you the opportunity to try out things in the “real world”. It also allows you to see how others in that workplace apply theories and strategies. Sometimes with positive results. Sometimes with a disaster! Either way, the work place provides you with the sort of hands on learning environment others can only dream of.
Helps you decide if you need to pivot (a little or a lot!)
Let’s say you head into an internship thinking that your future career is going to look one way, only to find out that the reality is something very different.
An internship provides you with an opportunity to re-test your assumptions about your career path. For most, it inspires people to head into that career with gusto. But for others, it presents a reality that isn’t aligned with personal perception.
The great news is that the internship provides an opportunity to reflect and pivot if required.
Build confidence in your interpersonal skills
The world of work can feel slightly daunting when you are new to it. But workplaces are probably a lot less scary in reality than you might think.
By moving outside of your comfort zone, an internships offer you the chance to develop your written and verbal communication skills. In turn, this builds your confidence and ability to contribute positively to the company and the people who work within it.
Convinced?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. I get it. Internships require you to eat into your personal time. Sure. There are some super enticing ways to spend your university breaks. Beach trips, binging on your favorite series or hanging with friends.
But internships offer both short and long term benefits which demand your serious consideration. Especially if you are aiming high in your dream career.
How do I find internships near me?
OK. So now that you have decided that an internship sounds like a pretty good career move (congrats on that decision by the way – you won’t regret it), let’s look at the best ways to find internships you can apply for.
Let your fingers do the walking
The best way to find internships near you is to start with an online search. I recommend searching the following:
- Internships in [country]
- Internships in [city, state or county]
- [sector] internships in [country]
The search results that appear are likely to show you a range of job boards in your country or city that offer internships.
Most internships will be advertised directly on large job boards such as Indeed, Jora, and other digital channels such as LinkedIn.
If there are particular companies you are dying to work for, consider following those companies on social media and LinkedIn in case they advertise their internships directly on their own social media platforms.
Better yet, proactively contact the companies you’d love to intern with and let them know you are interested – you never know where that initiative and pro activeness might get you.
Once you have located some internships that look interesting to you, it’s time to apply. You won’t regret the decision to pursue an internship which will enhance your future career options.
Good luck!