Summer internships are being advertised! What qualities make the best internships though? It can be difficult to decide which ones to apply for and, as the offers come in, which one to accept. Here are the top five things to look for when choosing a summer internship.
Structure
The best internships will have structure. Asking questions such as, “What does the typical day look like for an intern?” or “What objectives do you have for summer interns?” will help you identify the level of structure and advanced-thought a company has given to their summer internship program. Some companies even have interns complete a project or create friendly competition between interns. These structures help students maximize learning experiences during summer employment.
Mentorship
The most valuable summer internships will include a strong mentorship component. Asking about who you will report to and how regular your communication will be will give a student good insight as to how strong an internship’s mentorship component will be. It is likely that mentor will be in the interview. Don’t hesitate to direct a few additional questions to that person to get a feel for his/her personality, management style, and approach to work and mentoring.
Learning Opportunities
Internships are all about learning and gaining experience. Make sure the opportunities you are considering for summer internships will challenge you and provide you with ample opportunities to learn new skills. Sure, a student intern is going to be asked to complete some easy tasks (filing papers, etc.) from time to time; that is part of the role. Make sure, however, that you will receive new training, gain new experiences, and learn new things about your industry.
Work Environment
The work environment can make all the difference in an internship experience. Many well-established internship programs will have articles published online from former interns who share about their experiences. Take advantage of these public articles and read them before your interviews! They provide great perspective on work environment as well as mentorship components and learning opportunities. Then, in your interviews, ask the panel how they would describe the work environment of their company or what they enjoy most about their job and company.
Compensation
The pay and compensation should be the LAST factor you consider these top five. Why? Because the purpose of an internship is not to make a lot of money. The purpose is to learn, grow, and identifying components that would bring you long-term career fulfillment. To students and parents, a $1 an hour pay difference may seem like a good reason to choose one internship over another; however, given the short-term nature of internships, the earning potential between $14/hour and $15/hour will end up being less than $300 dollars after taxes. It is MUCH more important to accept an internship for growth potential and the right work environment than it is for a small wage difference.
As you explore opportunities and search for the best internships, use these five criteria to help you make the best, most informed decision for your future! If you are in the beginning phases of summer internship exploration, consider attending a career fair and starting your search online! For more ideas and inspiration, follow me on Facebook as I’ll be posting more tips for summer internship success!
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