The Different Types of Internships for College Students

By Deborah Federico

Last week in my career development class, we were discussing the subject of internships. I asked the students, “How many internships should you have?” One student answered, “As many as you can.” Exactly right! Internships are a terrific way to test the professional waters, to develop your transferable skills and to build your resume. Most importantly, employers are looking for candidates with internship experience.

A recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that 42 percent of the seniors with internship experience who applied for a job received at least one job offer, compared to only 31 percent of seniors who had no internship experience. So, as tempting as it is to return to your summer lifeguarding position, I’m sure I don't need to convince you of the importance of doing an internship.

Start early enough and you can complete more than a few internships, of which there are a wide variety. I would highly recommend having a variety of internship experiences to help you discern what you want to do upon graduation and which types of work environments you prefer. To help you understand the different types of internships for college students, I've created this guide. READ MORE