[Q] About internships

Loptimist

106 Posts

March 21 2009 23:33 GMT

Hi.

I am trying to apply for some summer internships, so I am doing a bit of research.

However, I am only a freshman at college - are doing internships too early? My parents insist that I should start looking and apply this week. However, a lot of my friends are not doing internships. Instead, they are taking summer classes and working part-time jobs. I intended to do that, and I really don't want to intern...but yeah.
..

Hypnosis

United States2061 Posts

March 21 2009 23:35 GMT

Yeaaa, be more specific man what type?

fusionsdf

Canada15390 Posts

March 21 2009 23:39 GMT

depends what field you are in. But I've always heard get in an internship as early as you can. It makes you look a lot better coming out of college than the guy who has to put down mcdonalds.

That way you have real-world experience in that field and it shows that you can handle it for months at a time. It also shows that you didn't piss away your summers, which marks you (rightly or wrongly) as a hard worker.

On the other hand, previous experience in that field tends to determine your wage...So I'm a little bit unconfident of interning during a recession: It makes you more likely to get a job when you graduate, but you also risk starting with a payrate based on those internships. Not sure how realistic that complaint is, but I remember a study linked on /. that showed people who graduate during a recession lose 10% of lifetime earnings compared to people who graduate outside a recession.

So be glad you're a freshman right now and not graduating this spring.

shavingcream66

United States1219 Posts

March 21 2009 23:40 GMT

freshmen...so that means you haven't started college yet? you're in my position then. I'm probably just gonna get a part time job and relax/hang out with friends for the last time. I might take a few classes at a community college for fun

edit: jk you're a freshman now..i was thinking of incoming freshmen

JeeJee

Canada5652 Posts

March 21 2009 23:52 GMT

it's never too early ;-)
especially since you're a freshman, you can tryout the field you're (presumably) majoring in, and determine whether you like it at all. keep in mind though, judging whether you like a field by what they have you do could be wrong.. i would rather look at the regular employees there, especially in director or senior management positions.

the real question is whether you want to spend your summer doing it.

regardless, it's a useful experience either way

itzme_petey

United States1400 Posts

March 21 2009 23:55 GMT

Depends on your career path and what you want to do. There are several unpaid internships that are a waste of time but look great on your resume if you are planning to enter a certain career path. You probably have not chosen a path yet. Do not worry, take classes, chill, and hang out with friends.

If you want to be in investment banking then start as early as possible. However, that industry is done as of now. Even the guys who made it into banking fucken hate it. No bonuses this year (for lower/mid tier employees), therefore a major reason why people enter banking is gone.

If you are in the sciences, engineering, or accounting. You do not have to worry about seeking an internship this early. Many companies love the technical majors and will make space and hire you.

If you must work, I recommend a combination of work at your college's alumni department or undergraduate department. Take classes at the same time to stay ahead or on schedule to graduate. During my sophmore summer, I worked at an alumni department for the school and could take classes. The scheduling was based on my classes and tests. At the end of the summer, I had a network of administrators that I knew I could count on if I had a problem at school. Another choice would be a retail sales job such as bestbuy or some other sales job. Sales fits in with everything you will probably do. Helps with presentations or networking events also. Good luck but remmeber to enjoy your college years.

geometryb

United States1249 Posts

March 21 2009 23:57 GMT

it's never too early to get ahead.

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

March 22 2009 00:36 GMT

It's actually extremely late to apply for summer internships at this stage. Most companies have already started their hiring process. I believe they begin as early as January.

It's never too early to do an internship, they will help tremendously in discovering, shaping and/or building your future career.

What's your field of studies?

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