By admin, on October 6th, 2014  Question: I know this is dumb question but I dont understand what is internship? All my friends want to get internship and everyone know what is it. Am feel very stupid to ask anyone. I had part time job work in bookstore to help pay tuitions but is it same to internship? Do I need internship for my career? Thank you to your help to me it will be hard to ask my profs or friends. ~ Tatya Z., New York, NY
Answer: I am really glad that you asked this question, Tatya. Although it may seem as though all of your friends know what internships are, you are not alone in wanting some clarification. Many students and employers still have some confusion about what internships are and how they are different from other types of employment or from volunteer activities. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE),
Internships are typically one-time work or service experiences related to the student’s major or career goal. The internship plan generally involves students working in professional settings under the supervision and monitoring of practicing professionals. Internships can be paid or unpaid and the student may or may not receive academic credit for performing the internship. (Note: The issue of pay is dictated by the Fair Labor Standards Act.)
An internship is intended to be an intentional learning opportunity that would give you the chance to gain practical experience in your field while under the supervision of a professional within that field. This is different than, for example, your part time job at the bookstore because, while you may have learned many things, what you learned was not necessarily intentional. Moreover, your manager was not necessarily supervising you with the intent of helping you enter the fields of retail, book publishing, or purchasing.
There are many reasons that internships are so valuable. Aside from getting you practical experience, internships help you to test out a field while you are still a student and they give you the opportunity to begin networking with professionals in your field. Employers generally look quite favorably on applicants who have related internship experience. For example, a recent survey from NACE showed that employers made offers of full-time employment to 64.8 percent of their interns.
Please have a look through our Internship Basics articles where we answer questions like, Can I get paid?, When should I intern?, and Can I intern in the United States if I’m an international student?
By admin, on May 19th, 2014  Question: I am finishing my freshman year in college as a computer science major. I did really well in high school and have always been a good student (like 4.0 from sophomore to senior year in hs) but suddenly I am failing!! I am now on academic probation and if I don’t raise my gradse then I’d be kicked out! My classmates and parents tell me this will make it impossible to get an internship or get a job. Will this ruin my chances to get a internship or a job??? ~ Ju-won P., Portland, OR
Answer: First things, first. We need to determine the root cause of your failing grades. In the long run, employers care most about a continuous pattern of behavior. If this academic year is just an anomaly, (i.e., it never happens again), then the negative impact of this year’s low grades will be minimal. However, if you are not able to identify what caused your grades to drop this year, are not able to remedy the situation, and therefore continue with a pattern of low grades, then yes, your chances of finding internships and jobs will be negatively impacted.
There are many different reasons why grades can suddenly suffer. Here are just a few possible reasons why grades could suddenly drop and tips for pulling your grades back up.
1. Too much autonomy – As a first year student, you may be adjusting to having a lot more autonomy and not having teachers “nag” you about getting homework or assignments done.
Tips:
- Consider working with your school’s learning center to develop effective time management skills that will match your needs and personality.
- You may also want to connect with a trusted friend or family member to act as an accountability partner to help you stay on task.
Continue reading Questions Answered: I’m on academic probation; will I still get a job? »
By admin, on March 4th, 2014  Question: A bunch of my friends from high school and I got together over winter break. All of them went to big universities in our home state, while I went away to a small liberal arts college in a different state. They were all teasing me that I would never find a job with my degree because I go to such a small unknown school. I like my school a lot, and have made a lot of friends, but it is super expensive. Since I got back to campus, I’ve been stewing on all the teasing and now I am seriously thinking about transferring next fall! If I ask people at my school, of course they will tell me it’s a bad idea. And if I ask people at the public schools back home, I’m sure they will tell me it’s a good idea! So I kind of need an unbiased opinion? Will going to my small school make it hard for me to find good employment? ~ Jenna T.
Answer: Transferring schools is definitely a big decision and I applaud you for gathering information before coming to a final conclusion. While I currently work for a small liberal arts university, I graduated from a much larger public university, so I can absolutely appreciate the value of both types of institutions. Let’s take a moment to consider the pros to each:
Continue reading Questions Answered: Should I transfer to a different school? »
By admin, on February 15th, 2014  Question: I’m applying for a summer research job for students at a college near my home. I’m a sophomore bio major and I worked at a lab in my own college during the fall and the job sounds pretty interesting but I’m nervous cause I haven’t had to apply to anything like this before. The application says to give 4 letters of recommendation plus an essay. I don’t know who to get to write letters. I have a coach I can ask. Would it be bad to ask my high school guidance counselor? He knew me pretty well, but I haven’t seen him in more than two years. And where should I get the fourth letter? I don’t know too many people back home anymore. ~ Abby T., Tempe, AZ
Answer: A summer research opportunity can be a very beneficial experience, especially if it is doing work that you might want to do long-term. Typically, colleges ask for letters of recommendation from people who have observed your work, and even better, people who have supervised your work. Ideally, these are people who have seen your research ability and can speak knowledgeably about your capacity to conduct research. Most colleges also typically prefer to see letters written by faculty. You mentioned working at a lab at your college. Would the supervisor at your college’s lab be willing to write you a strong letter of recommendation? Perhaps you could also ask a biology professor who is familiar with your work? Do you have any other professors who have observed your research or academic work? Even a letter written by a faculty member from a different department who can write a strong letter on your behalf can be powerful. If you can get three of the four letters written by faculty at your own college, that would be good. A current work supervisor of a campus job would also be a good person to ask to write a letter.
Continue reading Questions Answered: Whom should I ask to write recommendation letters? »
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Question: I know this is dumb question but I dont understand what is internship? All my friends want to get internship and everyone know what is it. Am feel very stupid to ask anyone. I had part time job work in bookstore to help pay tuitions but is it same to internship? Do I need internship for my career? Thank you to your help to me it will be hard to ask my profs or friends. ~ Tatya Z., New York, NY 
