Internships

Internships are a great way to gain practical experience in your field of interest. The Center for Career & Community Engagement can help you find the internship that is right for you.

Why an Internship

An internship is hands-on learning that occurs when students are placed in environments where they think and interact in the real working world. Internships have become an ideal way for liberal arts students to gain practical job experience in career fields outside of the classroom. It is a firsthand way to see if you will enjoy the field you are planning to enter. These opportunities may be paid, volunteer, or for academic credit.  If an internship is unpaid, find out more about our summer internship grants to help alleviate expenses.  Internships, or experiential learning opportunities, are intended to give students more ways of channeling the energy, enthusiasm, and skills they already have and to provide situations to expand on them.

Internship experience leads to employment. More and more students are working in multiple internships before they graduate. Upon graduation, students with pre-professional intern experience secure jobs at roughly twice the rate of those without internship experience. Job recruitment on college campuses decreased by about 50% nationwide in 2002. While some economists predict that the recession will ease up this academic year, others are not as certain. Currently, the economic climate remains tenuous. In considering the fluctuating economy and the increasing reality that more and more students are gaining valuable professional experience while still in school, securing internships to build exposure, skills, and experience should be considered an essential co-curricular component to your overall Lewis & Clark College education.

Internships are helpful for graduate school. Graduate school admissions committees look for evidence of practical experience before admitting students. According to a recent survey, 91% of those admitted to law school and 94% of those admitted to graduate business (MBA) programs had internship experience.

Benefits of Internships

Internship resources are provided by 3CE to reveal viable career paths through hands-on learning experiences in a variety of areas of interest. Completing internships during college allows students to explore and experiment while gaining professional experience and exposure. Additionally, interning helps participants develop essential skills and build the confidence to secure a first job or graduate school opportunity.

Some of the obvious advantages an internship offers:

• Learn more about a chosen field.
• Apply classroom theory to real work situations.
• Become more knowledgeable about general work functions in particular fields.
• Identify and/or test interests and talents.
• Investigate organizational cultures.
• Learn career-related skills.
• Identify transferable skills.
• Strengthen written and oral skills.
• See if a selected career path is one you truly wish to travel.
• Find out what it’s like to work in a business environment.
• Enhance and strengthen your resume.
• Make contacts to gain future employment.
• Bridge between college and work.
• Stimulate new interest in academic course work and frequently develop an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Gain an increased awareness of skills, attributes, personal qualities and values.

Additional Resources:

Find Internship Opportunities and Search Strategies

Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin Summer Internship Award

Miller Internship Award

Applying for an Internship

Create your own Internship

Internships for Academic Credit

Making the Most of an Internship Opportunity

Common Challenges

Professional Conduct