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Why are internships and other pre-graduation experiences so important?

Employers and graduate schools alike look for candidates with solid academic records and a pattern of experience that shows they have acted on interests; demonstrated the discipline, teamwork and other traits necessary to succeed; and have applied their learning to real as well as simulated problems.  Such students are more confident, more mature, and more realistic.  Those who readily reflect on their experiences, can articulate what they have learned, and can project themselves into the future, are the candidates of choice.  The Career Services Network supports the acquisition of experience, both to test initial career interests and to build competitiveness for the job market.

Students should start to define experience as any situation where they have applied themselves to some goal or achievement. Skills, interests, and preferred work styles can be revealed and strengthened in academic classes and projects, involvements with faculty research, internships, co-ops, field placements, volunteer roles, student organizations, work/study jobs, and many other situations. Fortunately, Syracuse University provides a wide array of such possibilities to its students.

When should students start pursuing such experiences?

The more real world experience students can acquire, the better their decision-making will be about future pursuits, and the more likely it is that they will be seen as attractive candidates for internships, permanent positions, or even admission to programs of further study. Therefore, students might start as early as their first year to pursue experience. Upper class and graduate students should certainly focus immediately on securing career enhancing experience.

What resources and assistance are available?

Many units of the Network maintain career literature, directories of potential employers, actual announcements, and guides to internship opportunities that students can use without appointments. So the first step should be to check with home college departmental and career services offices.

Next, students should avail themselves of some of the all-university resources that exist, notably the internship services offered through the Center for Career Services , the SU Abroad Program, the Center for Public and Community Service, and the i-learn program.

Resources exist online as well. Examine the web guide to internships, seasonal employment, volunteering and other temporary opportunities in the Web Links section above.  The Transitioning item in the Student section above and the recommended reading linked below discuss many of the advantages and issues associated with pre-graduation experiences and today's workplace. 

In addition to help available in students' home colleges, career consultants at the Center for Career Services (235 Schine) are available to discuss sources of opportunity, timing concerns, and the search skills and strategies that should accompany a grasp of the self help resources above.  As far as search skills, many students benefit from resume and cover letter critiquing and mock interviews.

As far as events and programming, the Network coordinates an Internship Fair in the early Spring at which connections and interviews may occur with visiting employers from several sectors. The Fall Career Fair, held in late September or early October, has increasingly been an event where attending employers are also internship-focused. A Fall series of workshops help students prepare for these events and their own search efforts. On-campus interviews with individual employers may also occur during the year. Being registered with OrangeLink will keep students aware of these opportunities. Workshops on finding internships and summer jobs are also offered periodically. Check the Upcoming Workshops Section of Network News above.

Recommended Reading.  The following can help students to think about the value, possibilities, and obstacles associated with pre-graduation experience:
 

The Center for Career Services