Great ways to jumpstart your career In school, you're encouraged to study a wide array of subjects and narrow your major according to your future career goals. A great way to do this is to pursue an internship in a field of your choice. Once you've chosen your internship, what should you expect from the experience?
First, an internship should give you a great sense of the field in which you are interested. For example, if you intern at a genetics lab, you will discover whether or not it is an area in which you want to further your education. Many graduate schools look at your past experiences when reviewing your application. If you have related work or internships, it will bump you in front of "inexperienced" candidates. You will gain a sense of what you want to do and, equally important, what you don't want to do.
Second, you will meet new people who may be able to further your career in the future. Networking is an important and beneficial tool for future success. You never know when you'll meet the person who can help you land that job of your dreams. An internship gives you the opportunity to begin your networking and help you create connections that could provide future benefit. Even if you decide that the field is not for you, your contacts will always be valuable.
Finally, an internship will help you market yourself in an interview. When employers come to your school to conduct interviews, your internship experience will set you apart from the competition. The more that you can incorporate industry-specific experience into your background, the likelier you are to be qualified for various positions.
Internships have many more advantages than just the three mentioned in this article. These benefits are both tangible and intangible, and usually help jumpstart a fulfilling career.