Internships and Cooperative Education (Co-Op)
Internships are a great way to get firsthand experience in a field or profession. You work part-time, which may or may not be paid, in a company to learn about an industry and various professions within that industry. You can find internship opportunities through your college’s website, online, and in-person through networking—through campus personnel, personal connections, LinkedIn and other similar platforms.
I encourage you to try several different internships. They pay off in the long run by helping you identify your preferences in work, develop your interests, inform your decision about college majors, and connecting to professionals in various fields. This experience makes it more likely the career you pursue after graduation is a good fit.
Be strategic in how you find an internship. Make sure to research the company, ask questions, use the resources from your campus, and visit the sites. This takes some upfront investment, but the reward is a more efficient way to navigate through them all and make the internship meaningful. Sometimes, you can find scholarships for internships, and positions may turn into paid full-time jobs once you’ve graduated.
One of my first internships was with a financial planning firm. In the first couple of days, I was introduced to their employees, learned some of the basics, and was given an office space. I clearly remember walking over to my window with a nice view thinking, “This is not for me.” I liked the suits, I liked the independence, yet I wasn’t working with the issues that mattered most to me. One might call this a life purpose. It’s the thing that we feel passionate about and are strategi- cally placed in time and space to do and the area in which we want to develop our knowledge and skills. Then, with serendipity, we can create positive change and make meaningful contributions to the world.
Here are some links to a few internships/training programs:
Cooperative education is also a great way to transition into the working world. This program offers academic credit for particular types of job experiences. It can provide occupational skills devel- opment, money during the school year, summer work, and connec- tions to other parts of the country and abroad, helping with culture acquisition, networking, and exposure to various careers.
I encourage you to try several different internships. They pay off in the long run by helping you identify your preferences in work, develop your interests, inform your decision about college majors, and connecting to professionals in various fields. This experience makes it more likely the career you pursue after graduation is a good fit.
Be strategic in how you find an internship. Make sure to research the company, ask questions, use the resources from your campus, and visit the sites. This takes some upfront investment, but the reward is a more efficient way to navigate through them all and make the internship meaningful. Sometimes, you can find scholarships for internships, and positions may turn into paid full-time jobs once you’ve graduated.
One of my first internships was with a financial planning firm. In the first couple of days, I was introduced to their employees, learned some of the basics, and was given an office space. I clearly remember walking over to my window with a nice view thinking, “This is not for me.” I liked the suits, I liked the independence, yet I wasn’t working with the issues that mattered most to me. One might call this a life purpose. It’s the thing that we feel passionate about and are strategi- cally placed in time and space to do and the area in which we want to develop our knowledge and skills. Then, with serendipity, we can create positive change and make meaningful contributions to the world.
Here are some links to a few internships/training programs:
- Dream Career Global Internship Programs
- NASA summer internships
Cooperative education is also a great way to transition into the working world. This program offers academic credit for particular types of job experiences. It can provide occupational skills devel- opment, money during the school year, summer work, and connec- tions to other parts of the country and abroad, helping with culture acquisition, networking, and exposure to various careers.