Internship Types
The Three Different Kind of Internships
Looking to intern this summer or even while you take classes? Many students decide to take that very same course of action. But did you know that not all internships are created equal? There is more than one kind floating around out there and have both pro’s and con’s to them. To help decide which are best for you, we have listed three of the most common kinds of internships below.
Non-paid internship – This is just what it sounds like. It is an internship that offers students nothing in return except the sheer joy of interning. But don’t be too quick to write this off. These kind of internships are usually available in high demand areas such as entertainment. In addition to making valuable connections, unpaid interns are able to demonstrate a serious commitment to employers who have probably seen their share of those who don’t take work seriously. It can also show other employers that you truly love what you do and are not in it for the money.
Credit internships – These internships can often be taken in the place of a college course. While these internships can be paid or unpaid, with single college courses costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, there is money to be saved here. They can also be advantageous in lieu of stuffy old classroom courses and teach students real world skills. Be sure and check with your college before taking on an internship like this to make sure it will count towards your degree.
Paid internships – This internship is where the money hits the fan. Paid interns can make anything from minimum wage to ten or fifteen dollars an hour. The obvious downside to these is that the more an internship pays, the more competition there will be for it, and the less likely you are to land one. However, many companies offer paid internships where students can learn everything from office atmosphere to complicated software.
No matter what kind of internship you are looking for, be sure and research and ask as many questions as possible before taking one on. A good question to always ask is if the company ever hires full time workers from the pool of interns and how often that happens. Where an internship leads to is often as important as how much the student is learning and how much – if anything – they will be paid for.