Key Qualities of a Good Internship

Key Qualities of a Good InternshipKey Qualities of a Good InternshipFinding a great internship is what most students strive for but how do you know if your internship is a great one if youre not sure what type of experience it is that you want, or if you havent established any goals to know what you hope to accomplish? Goals A great internship provides the knowledge and skills required to become successful in a specific career field. The most amazing internship experiences are those that prepare students for the work they hope to do after graduating from college. Employers seek employees who have the experience required to start out in a new field. Employers also welcome new employees who have already had exposure to the field and understand the type of work they will be doing once they are hired. Employers spend a great deal of time and money on training their new employees, and they know that they can eliminate a lot of this time by hiring someone with previous knowledge and expe rience. The Importance of Interns Being Teamed with a Mentor Interns who are teamed up with a berater within the company are most likely the ones who will best learn about the organizations culture and what it takes to be recognized by the companys management team and ultimately to become more successful on the job. In addition to the knowledge and skills employers look for in new candidates, individuals who get along and understand the organizations culture are often seen as top candidates for any full-time jobs that open up. Often employers feel that they can teach the basics of an entry-level job, but they cant make a new employee fit into a culture thats already been established. Compensation Isnt Necessarily Reflective of a Great Internship Although most interns would prefer to get paid, the fact that an internship is paid does not always qualify it as a good internship. There are many amazing unpaid internships in the nonprofit world that provide great experience and e xposure to the field. Although the Department of Labors Internship Guidelines is becoming stricter in requiring for-profit companies to pay their interns, the fact that your internship is paid does not make it better than other internships where pay is not an option. If you are set on getting a job in the nonprofit world, real-world experience may be required to get hired for a full-time although the perspektive to get paid to learn in these types of environments is rare. In this case, its important for students to identify their personal goals before they make a decision that theyll only accept a paid internship. The Chance to Make Professional Connections Internships that provide opportunities to meet a large number of professionals currently working in the field are those experiences that give students the chance to make important professional connections that can last a lifetime. Since networking is considered to be the 1 job search strategy, the chance to meet professionals both in and outside of the organization where youre interning can be most valuable as you begin your job search as you get closer to graduation. Take the opportunity to discuss your future goals with professionals in the field in hopes of including them in your own personal network. Additional Benefits and Perks Internships that offers a good salary, benefits, and perks are often seen as the dream internship that everyone strives for. There are many organizations that pay interns quite well in addition to offering them many benefits that full-time employees have including health and dental. Some organizations offer a variety of perks, such as concert tickets, networking receptions, gym memberships, plus much more. An organization that offers these types of benefits to their interns also offer great benefits to their current employees. By creating internship and individual career goals, you will be able to find the right internship for you. One persons perfect internship is usua lly not the same for other individuals who have their own set of personal goals and expectations.