You hear it all the time, “apply for an internship!” And you may think to yourself, “why is that so important?” The good news is I have created a shortlist that will have all the answers to that question!
You can discover what you like and don’t like about a career field!
When the time comes to job hunt you will find that there are more jobs than simply: TV reporter, PR practitioner, theatre critic, or a writer for a newspaper. Having a degree in communication will allow you to explore several career options, such as: professor, volunteer coordinator, human resources, lawyer, various production jobs, and so many more. Since the field is so broad, it is important to narrow that list down! Having an internship (or two!) will better your career path!
You will be able to develop specific skills fo your career field!
When you have a hands-on internship you will gain experience that is invaluable! Say you want to get into TV production after graduation, some skills that are used in a studio just cannot be taught in our (awesome!) broadcasting classes! This will be a great resume highlight to employers!
You are now a more competitive job applicant!
Having an internship will make you more competitive in the job search for several reasons. One reason I listed above, you will have developed specific skills for the job. Another reason is it will help prove your work effort. An employer will be able to reach out to your internship supervisor and hear personally how awesome you are! Now, in your job interview, you also have specific examples of handling scenarios they may ask you about.
You are starting to build your network!
Networking is where you are in contact with people to help build a professional relationship! An example may be: your professor knows someone looking for an intern, they recommend you to the employer personally, and once you apply they are already familiar with you and know a little bit about you. This is why websites like LinkedIn have gained a lot of popularity in recent years. You never know who your internship employer will know. This could lead you into a potential career with the company your interning for or a company your boss knows well.
For more information on internships, visit our website at https://www.comm.msstate.edu/current-students/internships