by Renee Dunifon, Graduate Retention Field RepresentativeIn today's economy, many employers believe they cannot offer a college student an internship because they cannot afford to pay wages. What you may not know is that of the 1,652 students who responded to a survey supported by IndianaINTERN.net, financial compensation ranked 8th in their top ten reasons for pursuing internships. What was the top reason on the students' list, you might ask? -The top reason was to gain hands-on experience. This is something you can offer at very little cost to your company.
Other reasons that ranked higher than earning money were as follows:
- To learn new skills
- To become better prepared to be employed in a specific field
- To make professional contacts for future networking
- To be given a realistic preview of the "World of Work"
- To experience work at a potential full-time employer
- To explore a new organization
When reflecting on the reasons why students choose to participate in internships, you might discover that you have exactly what those students want and need: "real world" work experience. Students have much to gain from internships beyond their current financial situations. The connections they make and the experience they gain far outweigh any income they could be earning by working part-time jobs that are unrelated to a specific career path.
For help with securing an intern for your company, contact Kay Anthony here at the Chamber at (260) 424-1435, or visit our Web site for more information.
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