Is Landing the Right Job Tougher Without Internships?
Despite statistical proof that internships often result in entry-level employment after graduation, there are still some college students who opt against doing them. If they work at all during college or in the summer, they are choosing to work instead for local retailers and restaurants. Others may work in offices, performing the very tasks that make most interns cringe - filing, photocopying, etc. - during their internships.
Internships are extremely important to those who are completely unfamiliar with the industry in which they want to work. I majored in journalism, but had almost no industry experience outside of two journalism workshops done during my high school years - too far back to even be relevant - and writing occasionally for the campus newspaper. That simply wasn't enough to prepare me for a career after graduation. So, I went in search of one and ended up finding two - one with a community newspaper and the other with an online company, which gave me experience working in the world of "new media."
Scottrade Intern Recruiter, Chrissy Glover, believes that although it's not impossible to get a good job without an internship, it certainly helps, especially if you chose wisely. "If a [candidate] can say that they have worked one-on-one with brokers, customers, and branch managers that weighs heavily with a potential employer," Glover said. She concluded that for employers, internships are evidence of real world experience and that's what they seem to want most in new hires.
"Even if your elected major doesn't require an internship or co-op, it is suggested your participate in one because the skill set that can be acquired during this brief period is immeasurable when it comes to applying for positions after graduation," said Keyla Cabret, university relations supervisor for Aflac. Recent college graduates want to embark on exciting, lucrative careers. Internships and co-ops can help them achieve their goals by providing the best possible industry-related skills to present to a potential employer.
Global Manager for Autodesk Global University Programs, Maureen Buehler, believes that "through an internship, students will learn and practice essential workplace skills, such as interviewing, collaborating, synthesizing information from diverse sources, and reporting outcomes through oral, written, and multimedia presentations."
Another bump in the road to a recent college graduate's career goals is past interns. As Alicia King, public relations coordinator for Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates (Clarke/EMA), and former Clarke/EMA intern, put it, many interns receive job offers at the conclusion of their internships. "Most companies won't let a good intern get away - it's in their best interest to have the best, most talented employees," King said. So if a recent college graduate applies to Company X with no internship experience at all, let alone any with Company X, the odds against her getting hired are doubled.
Katie Layous, internship coordinator at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, sees things a little differently. While acknowledging the importance of internships, she knows students can gain practical experience through "part-time field related work or freelance jobs," making them "just as marketable" as graduates who have done internships.
"With the quality of job candidates in the market today, an internship is an integral part of the resume, said Brian Saunders, junior account executive - and former intern - of Alpaytac. "It serves as that ever-important work experience for an entry-level candidate, and provides a reference who can speak to the candidate's abilities as an employee."
Elsa Morgan, human resources director for JAKKS Pacific, probably spoke for most employers and recruiters when she said, "It's not necessarily more difficult [for a recent college graduate to get a good job without internships listed on his resume]; however, we favor those who have had real world experience."
Rebecca Hall, APR, CEO, and president of IDEA HALL, agrees. "When hiring entry- level staffers, 9 times out of 10, the preference is always for someone that has had an internship or two as this indicates the individual is highly motivated and can easily immerse themselves into a real world setting. Most businesses move quickly so it is comforting to hire an entry-level individual that isn't 'too green' - you want someone who knows their way around an office and comes to meetings prepared to take on assignments," she said.
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