When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the future of internship opportunities was suddenly uncertain. Not sure how to adapt full-time job positions, let alone internships, to fit CDC standards, many companies and organizations canceled or postponed their spring and summer internships. However, moving forward, more and more companies and organizations are becoming equipped to accommodate both in-person and virtual internships. If the pandemic has made one thing clear, it is that companies still have needs that need to be met. Although internship opportunities may look different for the foreseeable future, luckily for students there are still plenty of options to choose from that can give you the NSU edge.
Internships are an important part of entering any field. Emilio Lorenzo, the director of employer relations at NSU, explained that internships are one of many ways students can gain the experience that employers are looking for.
“Gaining experience in your field is so critical. After you graduate, you’ll notice that even entry-level positions require one to two years of experience. [Employers] expect that, as you learn the academic and theoretical in the classroom, you are also applying practical experiences through internships,” said Lorenzo.
Niemah Butler, the assistant director of employer relations at NSU, added that internships can be a great way for students to get a feel for the industry they are interested in going into before making an official choice.
“Internships are a ‘try it before you buy it.’ Try it out now before you graduate… If you do an internship and decide [that] it is something you don’t enjoy, then you don’t have to do it,” said Butler.
This not only gives students a way to decide whether or not they enjoy a particular field, but may also spark interest in something new. Platforms, such as Parker Dewey, make trying something new and gaining real-world experience an easy and flexible process. Parker Dewey offers short project-based opportunities raging from short projects to semester-long experiences.
Lorenzo reminds students that they still need to take the steps they would have taken pre-COVID to make them successful. One aspect of this is taking advantage of the many opportunities and networking events offered through the Center for Academic & Professional Success (CAPS) at NSU. Lorenzo explained that attending virtual career fairs and information sessions is a vital element in finding internships.
“If you aren’t going to career fairs, if you aren’t putting yourself out there through virtual networking events, then you are not doing as much as the rest of the pool of applicants is,” said Lorenzo.
Attending virtual careers fairs, info sessions, participating in case competitions and more will make sure you are equipped with the best tools to handle your internship search. Another resource to take advantage of is NSU career advisors. From tweaking your resume to fit your industry of interest to help make sure you take all the necessary steps to get your internship approved for credit, NSU career advisors are there to help you at every step of the process.
“What better way to take advantage [of NSU’s resources] than to come to our office where a career advisor is going to coach you so you aren’t on this internship search alone,” said Lorenzo.
For more information about available internship options, read the CAPS monthly newsletter, log in to Handshake and make an appointment with your career advisor today.
