How Important are Internships for College Students?

Harsh
4 min readFeb 15, 2021

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Original image from Marwadi University

A good degree isn’t enough in today’s times. You also need practical work experience to land your dream job. That’s why internships are most crucial for college students to stand out. So in this article, I have discussed in detail why internships are so significant for college students. Read on to learn more.

Once Eva Chen, Fashion Director, Instagram, said and I quote, “My advice for young people is, study what you love and intern in what you want to do. And I think it’s okay to pivot as many times as you need to.” and I couldn’t agree more to it. Nowadays, a good degree doesn’t suffice to get a great job offer in the corporate world. Gaining a practical work experience has become equivalent to getting a degree. As a result, internships have become very significant in the lives of college students.

Internship in college students has become a lot popular among undergraduates and graduates. Internship programs help students stand out, grow and prepare for the life waiting for them ahead.

So, in this article, based on my experience with internships, I am listing a few reasons that make internships a lot valuable for college students.

Let’s get started!

Why are internships essential for college students?

In today’s world, recruiters solely rely on resumes that depict your work to date. So candidates with work experience, internships and volunteer work are highly preferred. All that you would have learned in the internship can be applied in future as well. Also, with technology changes, online internships for college students have been growing.

You can build strong connections through networking

Internships offer you an opportunity to meet professionals in the field you aim to pursue. Also, meeting professionals with the same interests you have will help you learn a lot. Every professional has different skill and problem-solving ability. Connecting with them will help you find new ways to learn and apply for work situations in future.

An internship is a learning opportunity that gives students a chance to network with working professionals, build a strong connection, and gain insights.

Competitive edge

With every field becoming more competitive, it is of utmost importance that you have something, which helps you stand out from others. There are hundreds of people that apply for a single job role, so to get through the final job process one needs to have a competitive edge.

An internship will help you acquire skills and experience in the field, which will give you a competitive edge over others. And it will also make recruiters feel that you are proactive and passionate about your career. An internship experience will get you noticed, and recruiters will feel convinced that you are right to fit in the company considering your skills surpass the theoretical knowledge gained from college.

Real-life applications

All that, you would have just learned through books and kept in mind can be executed through internships. You will apply classroom knowledge to the real corporate world, which is a righteous way to explore varied career specializations based the interest. Not only business skills but through internships, you will also learn soft and interpersonal skills, which are very important in all organizations.

With real-life applications, you can also understand the career path that comes under the job title you are aiming for. Overall, an internship will help you get real-world exposure.

Learn more about self

An internship is going to help you explore more about the field. Working in the real environment will help you gain an in-depth idea about the industry and, give you clarity on whether you want to pursue a career in this field. Because many a time, the reality is a lot more different than what you learn in college. You will know more about yourself through internships. It will be easier for you to figure out what you are good at and where you need to improve.

Summing Up

To conclude, internships are crucial for moulding one’s career. Not only students will carry out real-life applications and work in a corporate environment, but they will also get a hold on new skills that will help them outshine in their career and stand apart.

Every small step you take will define your journey, so make sure you start with your small step today!

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Let me know your views in comments below.

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Harsh

An avid writer that writes on anything that comes into his mind.