High unemployment rates can make finding a job difficult for recent college graduates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that age group of recent graduates, ages 20 to 24, has an unemployment rate over 6 percent higher than the national average. Students may want to consider participating in an internship to increase chances of employment after college, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The news source advocates the importance of choosing an internship carefully. Many students make the mistake of only looking for paid positions. However, taking an unpaid position with a company that wants to help their interns learn may be more beneficial, according the media outlet.
The news source also cautions against taking a position because of a company name. An intern may not have as many opportunities for personal growth at a large, successful company as they would with a position more tailored to their career goals, according to the newspaper.
The intern must also be ready to take initiative. Aaron Moore, assistant professor at Rider University, told the news source that companies are looking for interns who don’t need "hand holding" and are capable of tackling problems on their own without constant assistance.
Although some internships may involve getting coffee and making copies occasionally, it’s important to find a position with responsibilities and tasks that will prepare you for the workforce, reports to the media outlet. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), internships have a significant impact on jobs offers and starting salaries of graduates. NACE reports that students with an internship on their resume received 12 percent more job offers than students without internships. Also, students with intern experience were offered starting salaries almost $7,000 more on average than their counterparts with no experience.
