Written by Mark Shaw.

Hey Intern!

The image of a clueless, nervous, struggling student worker holding a stack of copies and coffee comes to mind. Internships have become an essential step in getting started in today’s professional world. But what does one expect from an internship? Many questions about the value of an internship emerge. In this two-part blog post we shall explore viewpoints of internship from points of view from students and those of professionals.

Let’s first hear from the students.

 

Beyond Class Credit – What Students Want from Internships:

hello-my-name-is-internAllison Bohannan is studying French and Business foundations at the University of Texas in Austin and has also participated in many internships throughout her years there.

She explains, “I was always hesitant to intern at a public relations agency because I didn’t believe the agency culture was something I would enjoy. However, many people advised me to go ahead and try the agency just to see if I liked it.”

She was pleasantly surprised. Her coworkers at Cohn & Wolfe were quirky, laidback, friendly and upbeat. After three months it has been one of the best things to happen to her. In a short amount of time she has gained knowledge about the inner workings of public relations she could have never gotten from classes alone. She would advise other students to seek out internships for the firsthand practical experience.

“I used to be nervous and insecure about my choice of major because I wasn’t sure that public relations was really for me.” admits Allison, “But now that I’ve given it a chance and have gotten the chance to learn, I am more confident in more choices and more confident in myself as well. “You may surprise yourself and actually enjoy the one thing that you always swore you would hate” She says.

An internship can put theoretical methods in to practice and allow a student to discover the concepts that put into a real-world application. The experience allows a student to discover those elements that work, those that do not, and the nitty-gritty inner workings of the industry they wish to be a part of.

“I truly believe that internships allow you to take the knowledge that you have gained in the classroom and apply it to real world situations in order to learn and grow.” says Bohannan.

Students may learn a lot in at university, but with industries constantly adapting to changes, there are many elements that classes just cannot cover. What students wish for from their internships is a harmony of theory and practical application. In a world where experience is so highly valued, internships represent the opportunity for students to build their knowledge base for their own futures and the chance to be a contributing member on a team in a business they, one day, wish to be a part of.

In our next blog post we will explore internships from managers’ point of view.

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