This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois State chapter.
Internships can be an amazing opportunity for you to gain the experience you need for the career you want to pursue. However, they are also a commitment that you should make sure you are fully capable of doing. Although it is very exciting to receive an offer for an internship, there are some things you should make sure you thoroughly think through before you commit. Here are some questions to ask yourself before making any decisions!
- Is the commute worth the experience?If you live in a town that isn’t near much, it can be harder to find internship opportunities. Commuting may be your only option, but make sure that the internship is one that you know for a fact will benefit your skills and experience. Also, be sure to take traffic into account! A quick 45-minute drive can easily be turned into an hour and a half in heavily congested areas.
- Are the skills and tasks involved relatable to my field?If you’re going to put in all the time and hard work it takes for an internship, be sure that you are going to come out with some new skills and experience. If it’s an organization that is relatable to your future field but not quite exactly what you want to be doing, it’s definitely best to weigh out all your options and consider your decision carefully.
- What about the other organizations I applied for?When applying for internships, you probably searched for as many opportunities as possible. If you receive a phone call from an organization with an offer and feel unsure, it is understandable to say that you are flattered but would like to take some time to think about your decision. When applying, you might find it more beneficial to choose up to five organizations that you think you’d get some great experience from and take it from there. Taking time to learn about each organization and focusing more on your potential interviews will give you more advantages rather than mass applying!
- Is it paid or unpaid?Finding a paid internship can be very difficult sometimes. Most organizations will only offer college credit which is completely okay if you’re going to benefit from it in the long-run. If it is an unpaid internship, make sure that the hard work you put into it will pay off. It’s a win-win when the organization benefits from hiring you (a hard worker willing to learn), as well you getting field experience along with an amazing addition to your resume. However, if you are constantly fetching coffee for the higher-ups and not learning much, it’s time to search for new opportunities.
- Is this business professional and established?Although the internet is a great way to find opportunities, it can also be sketchy at times. Before you apply, do a little investigating on any organization you’ve never heard of by looking up the website, googling the address, etc. Better safe than sorry!
- How long does the internship run?Most of the time organizations will ask you to commit to at least five to six months. Although your internship should be one of your top priorities, make sure you don’t have any other major responsibilities that might eventually collide and become an issue in the future. You’ll thank yourself later for preventing the stress!
Internships are very exciting. But before jumping into anything too quickly, think about your other options and make sure it’s something you’re really interested in! That way everyone comes out happy and you’re one step closer to landing your dream job. Good luck!