Internships Can Help Even After Graduation
by Sarah E. Needleman

Even before accepting his diploma from Ashland University in Ohio in May 2001, Darin Nicholls knew deciding on a career would be tough for him. Although he had majored in public communications, he itched to work in politics. But he wasn't sure what kind of job he'd enjoy. Then Nicholls learned about the internship program at the Ohio State Legislature. "I wanted to get my feet wet and thought this was the best way to find out if I liked it," Nicholls says.

Now he knows for sure.

One of 23 selected from a field of 150 applicants, Nicholls began the 13-month program in December. He says it's like a real job, with an annual salary of $24,500 and weekday hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, his duties are nearly the same as a legislative aide's and he receives health benefits, which is unusual for interns. The only differences are that the position is temporary and the pay is lower than what a permanent employee doing the same work would make. But Nicholls is certain he wants to stay in the Ohio Statehouse. When the internship ends, he plans to apply for a job as a legislative aide.

Still Possible

Like Nicholls, many new college graduates are uncertain what careers to pursue. Despite their qualms, they often embark on job searches, only to discover the task is daunting. That's especially true in the current tight job market, says Susan Terry, director of the Center for Career Services at the University of Washington in Seattle. "A year ago, college graduates could walk into a position," she says. "But now many companies are cutting back on hiring."

A 2002 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, a professional career and employment group in Bethlehem, Pa., indicates that employers are hiring far fewer new college graduates than last year. In 2002, companies predict they'll add 36.4% fewer graduates than in 2001, the survey shows.

In this climate, an internship may be a good alternative. Interns gain professional experience for a specific length of time, so there's no long-term commitment. Although most internship programs cater to undergraduates, plenty welcome postgraduates, so if you're a departing senior, it's not too late to start one now. Some programs, such as Nicholls's, hire only postgraduates.

It's often assumed that internships are held only in the summer. In reality, many run year-round and others are held during other seasons. Some pay an hourly rate and others not a dime. Yet most will offer you a valuable learning experience, networking connections, an opportunity to earn recommendations or a chance to get a job at the host company or elsewhere.

Terry says some new college graduates seek out internships instead of jobs after graduation because they were too busy with their studies to participate in one. Others may have had to work a noncareer-track job during their spare time to cover personal expenses. Or, they may have wanted to intern with companies that were located too far from their school's campus. Finally, they may have found they weren't qualified for jobs they wanted after graduation and needed to intern to get hired.

"Internships help you build professional experience and that's important because some companies won't even talk to you unless you have some," Terry says.

When John Swift applied for a research position at Corixa Corp., a biotechnology company in Seattle, Wash., the recruiter told him he lacked experience and offered him a paid summer internship instead. The 2002 University of Washington cell- and molecular-biology graduate accepted and starts interning there in June.

"I think it will be a great experience and a good learning opportunity," he says. Swift will work 40 hours a week conducting drug research and learning about pharmaceutical manufacturing. In the meantime, he says he'll continue to apply for full-time work elsewhere and plans on sharing details about his internship experience when interviewing with prospective employers.

Hands-On Experience

Even though internships are temporary and typically low- or nonpaying, they're still valuable assets on a resume, says Terry. "Talk about your strengths or talents you developed there and build it into your resume as if it were real work experience," Terry says.

Interns for the National Center for Policy Analysis center write analyses and opinion editorials that are published in trade journals, newspapers and other publications. These can be attached to their resumes. "Every intern has the opportunity to be published. We work with them to help them get published," says Matt Moore, policy analyst and internship coordinator for the Dallas-based nonprofit. "We give them the opportunity to get a hands-on view of what life in a think tank is like. They're not getting coffee. They're getting knee-deep into the work."

For Brandon Wood, interning after graduating proved more valuable than working at a laser company the summer before he earned his degree from Stanford University in California in May 2001. The physics major says he had hoped to conduct research at the laser company but mostly did assembly work. So after graduating, he applied for an internship at Lawrence Livermore National Labs in Livermore, Calif. "I needed something to fill time between graduation and grad school," he says.

While interning, he analyzed laser-weld samples and observed how certain materials react to high electric and magnetic fields. Now he says he can include the kind of work he hopes to do professionally on his resume. In the meantime, he's attending graduate school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., and plans to intern a second time at the lab this summer.

Gateway to a Job

Judy Rohde, owner of Career Development Services, a career-counseling firm in Austin, Texas, says internships are gateways for landing jobs. "All of my clients who completed internships had far less trouble getting their positions," she says. "With an internship, you can prove you have skills. There's only so much one can do with a resume after school, but with an internship on it, you look much stronger and more appealing to an employer. It shows you have a commitment to your field and that you're willing to invest your time and effort to get ahead of the learning curve."

Jessica Stadt's internship experience helped her win a job only months after she completed it. The 2001 Ithaca University graduate applied for the summer 2001 internship program at Glimmerglass Opera Theatre Inc. in Cooperstown, N.Y., after it was advertised on an opera-employment Web site. The vocal-performance and art-management major says she hadn't bothered searching for a job because she was undecided on a career. "I wanted to try out different things before committing full time to a job," she says.

Stadt was assigned to the ticketing office, where she learned how to access the opera company's database, work with customers and donors, and to sell tickets. She was given a weekly stipend for food and living expenses and housing. Stadt worked weekdays for the first month and then also on weekends when the summer opera season started.

When the internship ended, Stadt returned home to Rochester, N.Y. She waited tables to cover her expenses while applying for administrative jobs at opera and theater companies. In January, an opening for an assistant to the director of development became available at Glimmerglass. She applied and landed the job. Now Stadt works full time earning $18,000 annually plus health benefits. Her duties include maintaining a donor database, compiling and mailing information to customers and donors, and scheduling tours for students. She also helps the marketing department with promotions and sometimes travels to industry-related events.

For Dara Riehlman, a 2002 graduate of Berkeley College, a business school in Bergen, N.J., interning at the Decorating Exchange in River Edge, N.J., led to a permanent job at the interior-design firm. She finished her studies in December, months ahead of graduation, so she began interning to gain hands-on experience.

Riehlman says she wasn't ready to apply for a professional position because she lacked experience working with designers or customers in a retail setting. "I came in with knowledge about things like space planning, but I didn't know anything about fabrics, window treatments, furniture, wallpaper and the companies that manufacture these products," she says. "Now I can work with designers and know what they're talking about. They'll ask who has a certain fabric, and I can tell them off the top of my head."

Ms. Needleman is associate editor of CollegeJournal.com.