INTERNSHIPS

Interns Fare Better in the Job Market

Experience does matter: NACE’s 2009 Student Survey found that graduates who had taken part in an internship fared far better in the dismal job market than their peers who didn’t.

Overall, just 19.7 percent of the Class of 2009 who had applied for jobs had one by the end of April, but grads with an internship under their belt beat that average—23 percent had a job in hand. For those who didn’t do an internship, the job market was especially unwelcoming: Just 14 percent of those who hadn’t been interns landed jobs.

NACE’s 2009 Student Survey was conducted from February 19 through April 30, 2009; more than 35,000 students from more than 840 colleges and universities nationwide—including more than 16,500 graduating seniors—participated. Moving On 2009, the report based on results of the survey, is now available. For details, see www.naceweb.org/products/info_pages/gradstud.htm.

Benefits of an Internship can include:

• Gaining valuable out of class experience
  
• Exploring more about fields of interest
  
• Building professional relationships
  
• Enhancing your employability in your chosen career field
  
• Applying classroom concepts in the “real world”
  
• Identifying employers for full-time employment after college
  
• Improving communication skills
  
• Earning credit and/or financial compensation
  
• Acquiring new skills and developing transferrable skills for resume building and future employment
  
• Establishing references for graduate school applications or future employment
  
• Deciding if your chosen major is the right one for you