In 2005, the U.S. Labor Department predicted that 18 million graduates would be competing for 14 million college-level jobs and 80% of these jobs will require vocational training (Gault 45). It is no wonder that students are looking into internships as a means of gaining new skills and getting ahead in the job market.

In fact, these days, internships are almost as important as a college degree. Companies do not want to hire people who are “trying out” a job for the first time. They would rather have employees that have already interned or worked in the same career field and already know that they enjoy working there. And many companies prefer people who have tried out a variety of fields through interning.

One of the main reasons employers hire people with internship experience is that they have already spent the time learning the ropes, making mistakes (or watching others make and spend time correcting mistakes), and understanding the working world. Just remember, “The man who does things makes many mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all – doing nothing” (Benjamin Franklin). The more you do at an internship (whether you succeed or fail), the more you will learn and be able to apply that knowledge toward your next internship or career.

At an internship you may learn how to work 8-hour workdays five days a week (or maybe even overtime), how to handle workplace politics, and what the industry’s buzzwords are (every industry has its own “language”), along with a variety of other skills. However, internships are not only a learning experience, they can help you decide what career you would like to pursue and provide you with ways to get that career.

The best way to discover the right career for you is to do as many internships as possible during college – start your freshman year if you can. According to VAULT’s 2006 Internship Survey, “31% of students will have completed one internship by the summer after graduation, while 53% of the students will have completed 2 or more internships.” So you are not alone if you want to experiment in a few different fields by doing multiple internships.

Internships will help you discover what you are truly passionate about. By “passionate,” I mean that you want to find a job where ten or fifteen years from now you are excited to jump out of bed to go to that same job (or field). You will be spending the next forty years of your life working, so internships are an important step in helping you find something that you love doing while also making money.
If you think having an internship means working for free at a job where you have to run and get coffee, copy thousands of pages from a book, or answer phones all day long, you may be surprised to learn that not all internships are boring and full of trivial tasks. You may get to help out in the Emergency Room, learn how to train guide dogs, or give your advice on a new video game. And the good news is that internships have so many benefits that they will actually outweigh any tedious tasks you may end up doing as an intern.

The most important part of an internship is discovering what you like or dislike about working in that field. In an internship, you do not necessarily have to decide what your exact career title will be, but you can figure out what aspects of the internship you enjoy and would like in a future career and what aspects to avoid. The job market is huge and there seem to be more and more complex job titles popping up everywhere. Your internship won’t necessarily help you decide that you will be a Quality Assurance Specialist in a biotech company, but it will help you realize that you do not care to do experiments and research.

Many students switch their majors two, three, or four times before coming to the conclusion that they like their major. This may be due to the fact that colleges offer a vast array of majors. Penn State offers more than 160 baccalaureate degree majors and 21 associate degree majors, while UCLA offers 128 majors in 5 academic divisions. How do you choose one major with that many options (especially when you have not tried out a variety of classes)? That is where elective classes can help you.

Warning: Traveling may be addictive and cause symptoms such as yearning to travel more, wondering why you are in class when you could be in Rome, or planning another trip while you are still traveling.

One thing that can really make your college experience special is traveling. Traveling does not necessarily have to do with your academic educational experience (unless you study abroad), but can still be educational. Traveling can offer life-changing, eye-opening experiences that you should not pass up on.

As a student, you should take advantage of those summer and winter breaks to explore the world if you can afford it. And even short, inexpensive trips, can be valuable. Most importantly, while you are young is THE time to travel! I heard this many times from friends, family, and almost everyone I met on my trips abroad.

Why travel when you’re young? Because once you are set on a full-time job or have a family to take care of, it is hard to take time off just to travel. It may be possible to spend your ten-day vacation allotment per year traveling, however it is a whole different situation when you spend a year studying in Australia or working in London. And for most people in college, you do not have to worry about taking care of a family, buying a house, or working full-time year round. So college can be the perfect time to travel and experience life before you have to settle down and take on the responsibilities of the real world.

Tina Rowe, a good friend of mine, put it best by saying, “[the] college years are often referred to as the ‘best years in your life,’ because they are years marked by new independence, but lacking the complete responsibilities of more ‘mature’ adults.”

So take advantage of your independence and freedom while you can, and get out and explore the world. Use your breaks in college to travel and try to find a study or work abroad program to do for an entire year.

Why Travel?
At some point in your life, you may have wanted to see the Eiffel Tower up close, run with the bulls in Spain, or watch a Brazilian soccer game at a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. While traveling, you can have these experiences along with the chance to see the many differences between the cultures you encounter. You will be able to view amazing works of art and architecture that convey history, meanwhile strengthening your skills in communication, flexibility, and time management.

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” - Oprah Winfrey

An apple a day, keeps the doctors away!

Circle K, M.E.Ch.A., Delta Gamma, Crew, Resident Advisor...Ever heard of these?

Whether you've heard of them or not, it's time to start your research! The items listed above are names of ways that YOU can get involved. Circle K is a community service organization, Delta Gamma is a sorority, and Resident Advisors students who guide, mentor, and plan activities for students living in the residential halls.

You have probably heard the saying, “it’s not about what you know…it’s about who you know.” Well, actually, it's about who you know and who knows you! The more connections you make, the more people who you can reach out to for advice, support, and internship/job opportunities.