Internship Opportunities
Expansive in its reach, the field of business encompasses a myriad of various industries and practices. As a business student, it is imperative that one cultivates a strong understanding of information systems, marketing, and management, as well as soft skills such as written and oral communication, analytical thinking, and team collaboration. In every industry, employers tend to seek out graduates that have diversified their knowledge and specified their field(s) of interest. An excellent approach for students to gain relevant knowledge and expertise in their respective field of study is by participating in an internship. As members of a public university, students are given the necessary tools to learn about companies that are partnered with the institution or are looking to hire students within a particular field of study. This document will outline how students looking to experiment in the application of their studies in a professional environment can best do so, while outlining the benefits of obtaining experience in an internship role.
How can business students discover internship opportunities, given university resources?
Public universities typically host a variety of resources to help students learn more about their respective industries, meet with employers at companies that aim to recruit students, and network with alumni that have secured careers in similar fields. Business students are especially encouraged to reach out to career advisors who specialize in readying students for job readiness. Popular sites for students that are eager to find internships, or learn more about career opportunities include LinkedIn, Handshake, and Careerbuilder. Universities will typically encourage, if not require, students to make accounts for these sites, so as to network with potential employers and alumni. Additionally, students should stay tuned into university announcements made by the heads of their business schools. Professors, advisors, and faculty alike commonly aim to offer students with information regarding partnerships with local businesses, in which employers seek to recruit students from within the business school. Another approach for students to obtain internship opportunities is to attend annual career fairs. This allows students the chance to meet with potential employers and learn more about how they might apply their studies in a professional role. Students are often recruited by employers through career fairs.
How can a student land an internship?
There are a variety of ways in which students can prepare for their interviews using university resources. First, students should thoroughly research the company that they wish to intern for. This can effectively be executed by looking into the company’s mission statement, any companies it may have been partnered with, and the type of service or product they provide to customers. Additionally, students can reach out to any alumnus that have completed an internship at the company, via LinkedIn. Students can even research the individual that will be interviewing them by accessing their public profiles. Further, students should reach out to their university advisors to determine the type of information they should be prepared to share about their educational and professional background. Candidates should also expect to prove their qualifications for the specific role, according to the job posting.
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Created by ... Isabella Fernandez at https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-fernandez-8b3006205/