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The Value of an Internship

By Diann Lloyd-Dennis on May 21, 2013
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What do you want to be when you grow up? This age old question is one that we’ve been asked since we were little. Maybe you wanted to be a ballerina, or an astronaut, or a professional athlete. But what is your answer to that question today?

For most of us, the fame and glory of being a pro-athlete is out of reach, but the odds of finding ourselves in a career we love increases exponentially when we put in significant thought and effort.

Our Career Services team at Bay State College is always asked the best and most effective way to get a great job.  Everyone’s path to their chosen career is different, but my advice to all of them is the same.  Internships are essential.

So, why do we place such an emphasis on making sure all of our students have an internship before they leave Bay State? Here are the top 3 reasons.

  1. Internships Can Help You Identify Your Career Path.
    Many of our students know what field they want to enter into, but the nature of each job in that given industry/field can vary greatly.  Internships allow our students to say “This isn’t for me”. Or in many cases, it can lead to a greater understanding of the field and assist with the development of skills marketable for their chosen career path.
  2. They Enhance Your Resume.
    You may have a 4.0 GPA, but that’s not all potential employers are looking for these days.  Many employers admit that they would rather take on a student with a lower GPA and more real-world experience in their field than someone who only has experience in a classroom setting. 
  3. Internships Help You Build Connections
    If you’re open to it, an internship can help you build connections that will follow you through your career, no matter where you are working.  These are the people who will be your references.  If you impress them, obtaining references and job opportunities from them down the road will be easy.

This list could go on and on.  For more information on internships and the support our Career Services team offers, visit our webpage at:  https://baystate.dev.fastspot.com/exploring-careers/.