7 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Career as an Intern

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Why would you want to start at the lowly intern level when you can begin with a full-time salary and benefits? On the surface, you probably wouldn’t. But if you were aware of the true benefits of starting as an intern, you would change your mind.

According to NACE’s 2010 Job Outlook, 75% of employers said they prefer candidates with internship experience, while only 16% said they were interested in candidates with any type of work experience. Not only are internships preferred by employers, they are easily available in most industries. Even in the recession, companies continue to hire interns because they are cheap, eager to learn and can be evaluated before a costly full-time offer is made.

Companies always need interns.

This means that it will be easier to find an internship than a full-time job because you will have more companies to choose from. It also means that you have a greater chance of working with a big name in your industry—the biggest and best often take on the most interns.

Experience is not required.

Internships usually do not require experience because they are made to give you that experience. It will benefit you in the long run if you can gain the oh-so-valuable experience before entering the professional job search because it will increase your chance of getting noticed. Employers will be much more likely to grant you an interview or the job itself in the future if you can prove you’ve already been involved in their line of work.

You have the opportunity to work directly under a high-level employee.

Oftentimes entry-level employees are placed in positions at the bottom of the career ladder working under people that have little more experience than themselves.

Interns, on the other hand, are generally placed under higher-level employees that can act as mentors and serve as great sources of advice. If you show yourself to be an intelligent and hard-working individual, you may end up collaborating on important projects that you wouldn’t have access to in an entry-level position.

Maximize the value of your internship experience by taking full advantage of your high-level mentor.

Ask intelligent questions whenever possible and get advice on success within the industry. Take every task you’re given, complete it, and then ask for more work.

Your position is learning-oriented more than task-oriented.

The nature of an internship defines the experience as one in which it is more important for interns to learn about the company and the industry than to complete repetitive tasks. As an entry-level employee you are more confined because you are expected to focus on and complete the tasks specific to your job.

Do more than complete the work you’re given—ask questions and learn.

It’s one thing to simply do the work and another thing entirely to know how that work is important to the company and what it means. Spend time getting to know the company and the industry as a whole to get a better idea of where you want to get involved in the future. Talk to people in other parts of the company to get the ‘big picture’ and to figure out what interests you most.

Your work will be more diversified.

Since the nature of an internship is focused on a general learning as opposed to a simple execution of tasks, your work will be more diversified. Use this opportunity to get a better understanding of where your skills and interests lie.

Use your time as an intern to really define your interests and your talents.

At the end of each workweek complete a self-evaluation. Ask yourself what you enjoyed most during the week and what you—and your boss—felt you were best at. Try to find where your talents and interests align.

There is no long-term commitment.

The short time frame of an internship (the average is 12 weeks) allows you to complete multiple internships in a short period of time if you still need help deciding what you want to do or need more experience in a specific area. At the very least, you can earn recommendation letters and grow your professional network. Internships allow you to get a better idea of the type of work environment that best suits you. Do you hate the corporate feel? Do you prefer wearing a suit or casual dress to work? Internships help you figure out where you will be most happy before committing.

Go into an internship with an open-mind and willingness to learn. Along the way you will figure out what you do and do not like about the position, company and industry as a whole. Use this knowledge to pinpoint where you want to be and know that you are not committed to one company or one job.

More experience = more money.

Your starting salary may be higher if you have actual experience and the ability to prove you will succeed at your job. If you can demonstrate concrete results, companies will be more willing to spend money on you because all of the guesswork is taken out of the situation. Why not spend a few months in an internship to set yourself up for starting your career in the best position possible?

Use your internship to complete tasks that provide you with concrete proof of your ability to succeed in the industry. You will be a much more valuable candidate if your skills are ‘facts’ rather than simply statements.

The bottom line: start with an internship

An internship is the best way to get the industry experience that you sorely need to stand out from your competitors and get the job of your dreams. It provides you with the opportunity to narrow down your job search because you will know first-hand what you do and do not want to do, where your talents lie and the type of work environment you will thrive in. The best thing you can do is learn—internships provide you with the knowledge you need to make the best, most informed decision.