Gaining experience in your field while you’re still a student is essential to your post-graduation success. How do you gain experience? Become active on campus and develop your leadership skills through student clubs and professional organizations. Volunteer in the community. Research with a faculty member. Study abroad. Find a part-time job, on or off campus. Finally – and perhaps most importantly – gain experience outside the classroom through internships.
An internship is a structured, supervised and short-term program (summer or semester long) in which students perform professional tasks and duties within an organization in order to gain career knowledge and experience. Gained before graduation, internships are a critical factor that will make you more marketable than graduates in your field without experience. In fact, research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows that candidates with career-related experience receive more interviews, multiple job offers and higher starting salaries than candidates without such experience.
An internship will help you set and confirm your career goals while expanding your professional network. From internships to service learning, research to education abroad, gaining experience is essential, and as a Gatton student, opportunities abound.
The Graham Office of Career Management will help you identify and pursue valuable experiences that will make you competitive and help you gain the skills employers expect. Imagine what’s possible!