More and more students are finding out that applied learning such as internships and cooperative education programs (co-ops) give the necessary practical experience, and provides a contact base that is invaluable in the job search process.  For employers, these programs allow them to get a jump-start on training a talented young workforce. 

According to Webster's dictionary, an intern is an advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience.  Nowadays, this experience is obtained in all sorts of industries and many employers are hiring and training student interns with the hope of developing their workforce. 

There are two types of internships, academic and non-academic.  An academic internship is an arrangement between the educational institution, the employer and you.  The institution sets up the internship and makes sure that the work is associated with your major, minor, or area of concentration. To receive credits you may be required to work a specific number of hours and submit a report at the end of the internship period.  A non-academic internship is just that.  No academic credits are earned and the arrangement is between you and the employer. 

While internships offer little or no pay, co-ops combine paid employment with academic study.  You are able to alternate periods of study with periods of productive employment related to your area of study.  A co-op program works in several ways: 

• Parallel plan - you can attend classes and work part-time
• Alternate plan - you can alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of full-time work.  At least two work terms are required.
• extended day plan - you attend classes full-time and work part-time, or work full-time and  attend classes part-time

In order to participate in a co-op program, your college curriculum would have to be extended to five-years because of the two or three six-month periods of full-time employment.  On the other hand, internships are assigned on a semester-by-semester basis, allowing you to graduate within a four-year-period. 

Ann Keeling, associate director, division of professional practice, University of Cincinnati, believes that the extended college year is one of the reasons co-op programs have low minority participation.  "The program is not widely used by African Americans because many are first generation college students and are trying to graduate as quickly as they can.  More thought needs to be given to training, and while in college you need to take advantage of all options available." 

Choosing the program that is right for you is an important decision.  There are several factors most students consider before making a decision.  Work experience may be needed to showcase experience in your resume and make you more marketable.  You may need  paid employment to help finance a portion of your tuition or everyday living expenses.  And of course, academic credit hours can be counted toward graduation requirements.  For some students, an internship or co-op assignment gives them the opportunity to travel and explore other cities and cultures. 

"Before you select an internship program, be sure to carefully research what you want. Think about where you want to be five years from now and begin with the end in mind," advises Rock Anderson, area manager of INROADS in Atlanta, a non-profit organization that recruits high school and college students for participation in internship programs offered by companies in the United States and other countries.  He says, "as an intern you will be given the opportunity to prove yourself and find out if this is the career path you want to follow.  You can learn a lot during an internship that you wouldn't get exposed to until after graduating.  This is a unique exploratory opportunity for each student." 

Echoing the same sentiment, Keeling explains that the integration of classroom instruction and practical training in a structured environment gives you the opportunity to test out your major prior to graduation. 

"A co-op program paints a more vivid picture of what individuals do in certain professions.  Once you experience a certain job environment and see what that job entails, you may not like it.  At least you'll have the option to change your career path if it's not what you want to do. Keeling also mentions  "the real benefit of this program is that you are able to acquire work experience that gives you more advantage than a four-year graduate without work experience, thereby, making you more attractive to prospective employers and competitive in the job market." 

Anderson takes this thought a step further by explaining that employers want to see that you've had some type of job experience before they consider you for an internship.  He suggests having additional work experience before applying for the internship shows that you are creating a work behavior. 

"Those early jobs such as baby-sitting, grass-cutting, and working at McDonald's show stability and the desire to work.  That's an attractive quality to a prospective employer and these types of jobs shouldn't be dismissed." 

Your participation in an internship or co-op program does not guarantee a job.  However, more and more, employers are using work experiences as screening devices to assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees.  Employers are particularly eager to gain access to African Americans and other minorities, welcoming new ways to cultivate and grow talent for the long term. 

This fact is one of the driving forces behind the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) sponsored by the American Association of Advertising.  Agencies want to recruit minority students for placement in internship programs offered in advertising, an industry with a poor record of hiring African American, Asian and Hispanic workers.  Rhonda Jackman, manager of diversity programs at MAIP, said "during a 10-week internship assignment, we want to make sure our students are exposed to various facets of their field of interest, and that they are taught the necessary skills to be successful in that field.  To ensure this, we give structure to the internship process by working closely with our interns and employers and providing responsibilities and expectations to both parties." 

Finding the right internship or co-op program takes time.  The key to success is preparation.  The first step is to examine your transcript to make sure your grade point average meets the eligibility requirements.  Also, ask your class advisor to help you determine if there is room to add work hours to your class schedule.  Next, establish a relationship with a career counselor and visit a career development office to obtain a listing of prospective employers and internship/co-op opportunities.  On the Internet, you can find information about internships and co-ops by logging on to the sites that cater to students.  To search, use keywords such as "internship" and "cooperative education programs". 

Anderson suggests that you obtain as much information as possible about a prospective employer. 

"It is important to understand the vision and future of a company.  Call and ask for information from the company, or use the Internet.  Most companies have a web site so use it." 

He also advises you to ask friends and other professionals about opportunities in your field, and make full use of college counselors and placement officers to help you obtain the information you need. 

Once your research is done, concentrate on your presentation. Make sure your  resume is updated with highlights of your skills.  Complete applications neatly, preferably typed, with a clear explanation of details. Be prepared for interviews by brushing up on your presentation skills and having the proper interview attire. 

Twenty-five-year-old Tasha Gordon, interned five summers at AT&T while pursuing a dual degree  in electrical engineering at Spelman College and Georgia Tech.  Her internship was converted to full-time employment in 1996 when she was hired as a software developer. She credits the INROADS program with helping her obtain the internship that landed her a job. 

"I found out about INROADS in high school and applied for an internship during my freshman year.  I didn't get it the first summer, but I was called to intern during my second summer in college, and I interned with the same company every summer thereafter.  INROADS prepared me for the internship, and my internship prepared me to work.  I had no problems starting my new job.  It was a very smooth transition because I was already familiar with the company and staff who served as my mentors." 

Before accepting an offer to participate in an internship or co-op program clarify all aspects of the assignment before making a commitment.  Be sure to inquire about what type of supervision and mentoring you will receive.  You don't want to be given an assignment that only entails filing and shuffling papers.  You need to know to what extent will you be able to apply the skills and knowledge you've learned in your classroom.  Also, carefully evaluate the work hours to determine if they are flexible with your schedule.  Find out upfront, if you will be paid and/or receive academic credit.  Remember, co-ops offer paid employment, and internships vary. 

Internships and co-op programs have many advantages for students.  A properly structured program can prove to be a win-win situation.  As a participant you can, 

• gain practical experience in your chosen career field
• receive college credit toward your graduation requirements
• earn money for tuition and other expenses
• have the opportunity to form decisions about job compatibility
• acquire work experience to list on your resume
• establish valuable contacts for letters of reference
• gain confidence in your abilities

The National Society for Experiential Education 
3509 Haworth Drive, Suite 207 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7229 
(919) 787-3263 
www.nsee.org 

The National Commission for Cooperative Education 
360 Huntington Avenue 384 CP 
Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5096 
(617) 373-3770 
www.co-op.edu 

INROADS, Inc. 
229 Peachtree Street, Suite 2100 
Atlanta, GA 30303 
(404) 586-0352 
www.inroadsinc.org 

Suggested reading: 

The Internship Bible, 1999 Edition 
By: Mark Oldman and Samer Hamadeh 
Random House, Inc., ISBN #037575170X 
New York, NY 
1 (800) 726-0600