Internships- Valuable Work Experience Or Hard Labor With No Reward?
Most students enter college with an idea of a career path in mind, but most freshmen who were convinced that this is the way they wanted to spend the rest of their lives change their minds by their sophomore year.
Exploration is vital to the academic process, and as students are exposed to a variety of academic courses during their early collegiate years, they often change not only their minds, but also their career paths.
A work experience can be an invaluable way to acquaint students with a career field that interests them, and by the time graduation arrives, those students who have had work experience in their chosen field will have a distinct advantage over students with no experience.
An internship can provide a valuable work experience, possible course credits, an opportunity to experience a chosen career path, an opportunity to gain practical experience in the workplace, the chance to develop new skills, networking with professionals, and possibly the acquisition some spending money. A summer internship can be a significant investment in a student’s future as he or she expands their knowledge beyond the classroom.
In recent years, the job market has been brutal, with high unemployment and too many people chasing fewer and fewer jobs. As a result, internships have almost become a necessity for college students as they prepare to enter this tough job market.
Unfortunately, some employers see this difficult job market as an opportunity to hire interns for little or no wages, citing “valuable work experience” as their reason not to pay these interns.
A recent string of lawsuits challenging unpaid internships has caused corporations to re-think their policies on hiring students. Some are moving to paid programs, while others are eliminating internships.
The pressures created in the open market could result in better pay and a quality educational experience for those who obtain these coveted jobs, but increased competition for the fewer positions that remain.
Academic counselors, as well as an abundance of websites pertaining to college internships, are always important contacts for students seeking employment, and www.Indianaintern.net is an excellent resource. if you are seeking summer employment, we encourage you to start today – summer is almost here!
Dave Ryan is the executive director of the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. The opinions expressed are his own. He can be reached at dryan@lakeshorechamber.com or (219) 931-1000.
5/9/2014 12:00:00 AM
|
|
|
