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Myth: Employers will only
hire juniors and seniors for internships.
Truth: While some employers do specify a certain grade level requirement for their interns, lots of internships are available for all students, regardless of their grade level. Don’t be discouraged if you are a freshman or sophomore searching for an internship. You might have to look a little harder to find an internship that would be a good fit, but they are definitely out there.
Myth: Internships are way too hard to get.
Truth: An internship isn’t impossible to come by if you know where to look. A great place to start is your school’s career center. There you will find plenty of resources that will make your internship search much easier. Academic advisors are also a great resource to use when searching for that perfect internship. Don’t stop there though, because your network of contacts is also a great way to score an internship. Try emailing and calling everyone that you know. Ask them if they know of any internship opportunities that their company is offering.
Myth: Most interns just buy coffee and make copies all day.
Truth: The purpose of an internship is to give college students an idea of how a company operates. The goal employers have when hiring is to give you a glimpse of the day-to-day tasks of working for a company. They want you to get hands on experience with projects, deadlines, and teamwork. While there may be times when you have to pick up coffee or file documents, that’s not the main purpose of an internship. Plus, the real world experience and networking opportunities are well worth it.
Myth: I can’t put an unpaid internship on my resume.
Truth: Wrong! You can put any skills or experiences related to the job you’re applying for on your resume. When an employer looks over your resume, they are looking for any relevant experiences and skills that make you qualified for the position. It’s a smart choice to add unpaid internships to your resume if you think it will give you an advantage when applying for a job.
Myth: Only the best internships are paid.
Truth: When applying for a job, employers aren’t looking for how much money you made while working an internship. Experience you gain as an intern is worth way more than any amount of money you could make during the internship. Although you may not be getting paid, an internship where you learn how to work on projects, meet deadlines, and collaborate is well worth the experience.