Paul Bradford, MBA ’84, Director of the COVE Career Center What’s the Big Deal About Internships?
What's the Big Deal About Internships? Clarity, Skills and Confidence.
Will I get along with my roommates? How much will I miss my family? Will I be able to stay on top of my studies? How am I going to get to the beach? First-year students ask questions like these. Second-year students quickly pivot to the next big question mark: What major should I choose? This decision, rightly or wrongly, is often conflated with what career to pursue. It places significant pressure on students to select a major based on presumed career choices.
Certainly students need to choose a major. But today’s students will enter an economy in which they’ll likely have six or seven different careers and 12 to 15 different jobs during their professional life. This amount of change requires versatility, communication skills, critical thinking, and the ability to ask great questions. That’s where the Westmont liberal arts experience will pay dividends in the workplace.
Adding Clarity, Reducing Anxiety, Gaining Skills and Confidence
Internships can help students prepare. According to a Forbes.com article, two-thirds of employers seek to hire graduates with at least two internships (or other substantive experience) on their resumes. Beyond the pragmatics of finding meaningful work after graduation, internships provide students with a greater understanding of whether a particular job matches their aptitudes and interests. In addition, students develop their communication skills, interpersonal abilities, develop their capacity to work as part of a team — which all add clarity, reduce anxiety, and build their confidence as they ponder what comes next after college.
You can help your student pursue internships. Ask questions like the ones below.
- What are you learning about yourself and how you work with others, and what kinds of jobs sound interesting to you based on this? Note: COVE offers personality assessments and the Strong Interest Inventory to help them identify possible careers based on their values, interests, and abilities.
- Wave the wand. If you could have your dream, what would it look like? What steps can you take to learn more? How about an internship? Note: Students can talk to COVE about identifying possible careers.
- Which semesters at Westmont would be best for you to complete two internships? Note: Westmont offers internships for academic credit on a year-round basis. Students should consult with their academic adviser and COVE.
Westmont offers classes year-round that allow students to receive academic credit for their internships. If your student’s major doesn’t offer its own internship course, they can enroll in the APP-190 internship class (fall, spring, Mayterm/summer). An extra fee of $350 per unit applies to Mayterm/summer only. Encourage your student to talk with their major or academic adviser regarding internships for academic credit. Learn more on our Internships webpage.
Encourage your student to start looking. Many wait until the last minute to seek an internship. Employers routinely hire interns six to nine months ahead of time, so encourage your student to plan ahead. Whether your student just started at Westmont or graduates in May, the COVE Career Center can help your student identify and articulate their skills and interests, craft a solid resume, learn how to search for an internship (or job), and prepare for an interview. All of these services are available at no cost to your student. Learn more about all our services on the COVE Career Center webpage. Students can use Handshake to schedule an appointment with the COVE team to chat about any career topic.
Internships help students by adding clarity, reducing anxiety and gaining skills and confidence. We’re available to help your student take this important step in preparing for their professional life.