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Is it advisable to intern as a first-year college student?

I am applying to intern as I want to get more knowledge on the industry and have first-hand experience. However most internships are targeted at Students who are due to graduate in a year as they have more knowledge compared to first year students. Should I bother, or should I just wait until my 3rd/4th year to intern? #college #internships

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Kelly’s Answer

Hi Shrushti,


Great question! I would say definitely apply to an internship position as a first-year college student.


Not only could you find a great way to spend your summer break getting real industry experience, but it also prepares you for the process of getting an internship for the following years. Through the process of applying, you will get real practice in updating your resume, cover letter, and experience in interviewing!


I remember my first year of college, I had the same question, and I decided to give it a shot and apply to as many internships as possible. I actually was able to get an internship after applying to A LOT of companies, and I definitely still credit that first internship for allowing me to get internships down the road.


I hope you decide to try to apply, and good luck in your search!


Best,
Kelly LaBuff
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Ro’s Answer

I would definitely recommend an internship if you have the time! An internship is actual experience you can place on your resume - giving you an advantage over other students when you graduate. Also, you can consider externships in your senior year - working while going to school - these are often paid and will really assist you with networking in your chosen field. Nowadays a lot of internships and externships utilize online platforms, so you could potentially find an opportunity anywhere in the world. I would inquire at your school's career services department to point you in the right track. Often there are programs at large companies which will look fantastic on your resume, but you do have to apply early! (ex: Google, Disney, Netflix, etc.) The more experience you have, the better your next opportunity will be.
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EmilyAnn’s Answer

It's definitely worth a shot applying earlier in your college career. I was lucky enough to get an internship coming out of my first year, which put me in a great position for having an internship the following year. Now I'm going into my junior year with two internships under my belt, which have really helped me grow professionally and given me great opportunities. With that being said, don't blame yourself if you can't get one!! It is really tough to snag an internship especially as a freshman, and I know plenty of hard-working people who simply couldn't get anything.

So, I would say the earlier the better. If it doesn't work out, you have plenty of time to get an internship over your 4 years. Good luck to anyone in this position viewing this question now! :)
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Samara’s Answer

Any experience you can get in your field is valuable. When applying for internships, be sure to highlight your strengths, experience and course work that might be of benefit the company and land you the job. Good luck!
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Christine’s Answer

The more experience the better. You did not say what field you are considering.
If you have not narrowed it down. You might want to pursue a volunteer experience of part-time position dealing with the public or doing research or working in a certain environment are ways of narrowing your target.
If you have a specific industry it may be you need at least some course work to have the basic skills for an internship. A visit to your Career Center will help.
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Parshva’s Answer

Hi Srushti! That's a great question. Absolutely! Getting any kind of professional experience is always helpful! Yes, companies generally do target 3/4 year students since they are about to graduate in the near future, but many firms also have programs for freshman/sophomore students. I would highly recommend you to look at a few roles/industries/sectors you are potentially interested in, and apply for the same. You should also consider reaching out to small regional firms, or non-profits, even for an un-paid internship. The focus should be to get any kind of experience that will help you develop your interpersonal and people skills. Hope this help!
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Patsian’s Answer

I would generally say any opportunity you have to intern, you should. In general, real experience and exposure are great assets to compliment your academic studies. Waiting till 3/4th year may mean more time to study, but it also means less time to get more experience.

Pros to interning early:
- Gives students a longer runway to exploring whether a particular role interests you
- If the student already knows what he/she is interested in, they may pick up the necessary skills to get better, by dealing with real-life issues in a work setting
- Building connections and exposure to network

A reason why one might not go for an internship in the 1st year:
- If the student is unable to get an internship in a field they are interested in, they may use their break time to recuperate, and spend time taking online courses to build up their knowledge base
- insufficient basic skills to contribute to a specific internship opportunity

THere is also the reality where holiday breaks are a good opportunity to work and earn some money, especially if most internships are unpaid. Please don't shortchange other working opportunities that can also be beneficial to your learning - even if the jobs are not in the field of study you're in, you'll still be gaining work experience, leadership experience, interaction and how to work with people, and building responsibility and habit in surviving a work setting.
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