If Goldman Sachs’ top executives are willing to take a 99% cut in compensation for 2008, the rest of us should think about how we can contribute to the economy by donating our time and productivity. For students, internships are a time-tested way to get valuable experience in their field with an apprenticeship status that’s welcome (and maybe needed) in a tight job market.
Why should any student want to work for little or no money? Internships put students in the workforce with no future obligation to enter the field or the particular organization. Employers love interns because they are young, skilled, and come cheap.
Students benefit when their resumes include job experience in their chosen field; they can also get a reference from their site supervisor. An internship gives students an opportunity to find out what their field is really like, and allows them to refine their goals so they can apply for jobs particularly suited to their talents.
Also, the mistakes they make aren’t fatal. Site supervisors take interns under their wings and mentor them like parents. It’s okay to make mistakes around “parents,” but once a student is hired as a regular employee, mistakes are bad news. As part of the learning curve, the ability to err without “messing up” is invaluable.
Employers are happy the interns get work done without affecting the bottom line. In the current economic downturn, many organizations have hiring freezes, and internships might be the way some will keep up the quality of their production despite downsizing.
Even without hiring freezes, an employer can “test drive” interns to see if they fit in. One of the major attractions of internships for both student and organization is that they often lead to a job offer. It’s win-win for everyone.
This year I am the faculty sponsor for English internships at George Mason University. Students can earn 3 English credits based on their internships. Internships for credit are sponsored by many other departments at GMU, and at most universities nationally.
Students should check out the internship websites of their college or university to see if there is a listing that suits their interests. The GMU English department website (http://pwr.gmu.edu/internships/index.html), has listings that focus largely on writing and editing. Other departmental websites tailor their listings accordingly.
The interns I’ve met with this year have universally found the experience valuable, and have been met with praise and appreciation from their site supervisors. One works for a local television station, another for the Washington Post, and others for publications, on campus and off.
At first, students are a bit overwhelmed, but soon acclimate to both work and the office culture. They often move from easy tasks to ones that require a high level of skill. Sometimes they even propose projects that fit their particular interests. Often they are asked to stay on, either unpaid for a longer internship, or as a paid employee.
Student interns contribute their talents to our society, and they gain a great reference on their resume. Perhaps their contributions don’t equal in dollars the sacrifice made by Goldman Sachs’ executives, but student, employer, and society all gain from the internship experience.
