Working during the summer, sometimes for free, may seem as smartas whacking a beehive with a stick to some University of Memphisstudents, but a summer internship could be just what they need.
Internships provide work experience and confidence in astudent's field of study that could help them make importantdecisions during college, officials say.
U of M student Amy Clyce is serving as the assistant to thedirector of human resources of the Tennessee Treasury Departmentthis summer as part of the Careers Now Internship Program.
"Waking up at 6 a.m. every morning and not getting home until 5p.m. can be difficult," she said. "But this will allow me to knowwhat to expect when I apply for a full-time position thefuture."
Through her internship, Clyce has visited the Tennessee Bureauof Investigations, Riverbend Maximum Security Prison and theGovernor's Mansion. The program also allows her "shadowing days,"in which she can select a government office and follow peoplearound asking questions.
"An internship is a great experience to have regardless ofwhether or not it's paid," Clyce said. "If you know you can'tafford to complete an internship without receiving financialcompensation, you should start looking early. However, paidinternships are out there and more accessible than you mightthink."
Sarabeth Beekman, internship coordinator for U of M Career andEmployment Services, said internships can be invaluableexperiences.
"The National Association of Colleges and Employers ratesinternships as one of the most important criteria during thefull-time job search," she said. "Employers are starting to useinternships as a qualifier when screening candidate resumes forfull-time job positions.
"Any practical work experience you can gain in college, whetherpaid or unpaid, will be very beneficial to your full-time jobsearch upon graduation."
During the 2002-03 academic year, employers said they hired morethan 38 percent of their interns and nearly 51 percent of theirco-op students full-time, according to statistics from a FebruaryNACE study.
"It's been a very rewarding experience," Clyce said of herinternship, "and I would recommend all college students pursue aninternship in their field of interest."
