Should I go into an internship that is related to my major?
#internships #majors #internship
5 answers
Kelsey’s Answer
Although it is hard to decide what you want to do for a career, and in most cases people do switch fields or majors more than once, it is helpful to start somewhere you know you are interested. It truly depends what type of experience you are looking for. If you are looking for an experience to broaden your horizons and challenge yourself, it isn't a bad idea to try something new while you are young and still trying to figure everything out. However, if you are looking for an experience to build up your resume in support of your major to further your career opportunities and network with people in that field, then that would be a great way to get ahead.
Jenn’s Answer
I am a current student finishing up my college degree at Georgia Tech. I've found that finding internships specific to my major has been a good guidance tool as the requirements for internships tend to align with my skillsets. However, I've also found that exploring industries outside of the typical scope of my major has given me direction for my career! I am a business major, and before I declared my concentration, I took an internship in commercial real estate. From this internship, I learned that I do not particularly enjoy accounting or finance centered roles, which narrowed down what concentration I should choose! The real-life, hands-on experience that I was able to receive from each internship has shaped me as a young professional and given me the direction and confidence to pursue a specific career.
In short, yes, I would recommend looking for internships that request your major because the skill sets align well, but I encourage you to explore your interests! Nonprofits are always a great way to serve your community and a cool way to learn a lot of new soft skills beyond the basic requirements of your role. My internship with a nonprofit has definitely been a favorite in my career in school!
I hope this helps!
Cristin’s Answer
Hi there,
My name is Cristin and I am a university recruiter and have run several internships with a number of companies. So your questions is a little tricky. Sometimes people get tunnel vision on their majors when very few people actually go into careers that directly correlate to what they studied in school. For example - a student graduating with a psychology degree may want to go into a clinical or research setting but a lot of times they can still utilize their education in a finance, HR or marketing role. I think it's all about how you frame it on your resume to highlight your contributions and how you utilized what you've learned to contribute to the company. However, if your degree is something very specific like physical therapy that might not be as transferable as say communications or even a Spanish degree.
Alex’s Answer
Gabriela’s Answer
Yes, I would suggest you get an internship in your relates major. The reason for this, is so you can get a first hand experience on a day to day in your future career. This can help you determine if this is something you really like or not.
Best of luck!