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internship and may be negotiable based on your schedule. Be very clear about what’s required and what you
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12 • Planning for Your Future
can handle given your other commitments, because you want to leave a very good impression. (Internship
managers are your top resource for employment references and letters of recommendation.)
Note that while internships and similar positions may seem to involve low-level work, you maintain your rights
and should be treated properly. Getting coffee, organizing shelves, and copying papers are often part of the
work. Your internship should be structured with duties, responsibilities, and goals for learning that are
mutually agreed upon by both you and the internship site, as well as approved by an internship supervisor
from your college or university. This will help ensure a positive and productive experience for both you and
your internship sponsor.
Students who take internships generally report them to be worthwhile experiences. In a survey of students
taken by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, approximately 75 percent of students
responding to the survey said their professionalism/work ethic, teamwork/collaboration, and oral/written
communication skills were “very” to “extremely” improved by their internship/coop experience, and 66 percent
3
said the same of their critical thinking/problem-solving skills.
ACTIVITY
Go to Internships.com (https://www.internships.com) and enter a specific keyword and location in the fields
on the homepage, such as “airline” and “Bend, OR.” How many opportunities came back? How many piqued
your interest?
Now, try to choose a broader, less specific keyword. For example, instead of “airline,” try “aviation” on the
second search. If the first keyword was “physical therapy,” you might try “health care” for a broader search
in the same field. Did you receive more opportunities the second time? Do you see ones that aren’t exactly
in your field but that still seem interesting?
On sites like these, you can play with the options and filters to find a wide array of internship possibilities in
related fields. In the example above, a future physical therapist who took an internship in another area of
health care would certainly still learn a lot.
There are many and varied types of experiential learning opportunities that can help you learn more about
different career opportunities. These are fully discussed in Chapter 4. The table below provides a brief
overview.
Internship and Experiential Learning Terminology
Internship
A period of work experience in a professional organization, in which participants
(interns) are exposed to and perform some of the tasks of actual employees. Internships
are usually a relatively high commitment, and may be paid and/or result in college credit.
Externship/Job
Shadowing
Usually a briefer and lower-commitment experience than internships, in which
participants are observing work activities and perhaps undertaking small projects.
Unpaid and not credit-bearing.
Table 12.1
3 2018 Student Survey Report. National Association of Colleges and Employers. https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/
internships/students-internships-positively-impact-competencies/
Access for free at openstax.org
12.2 • Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle
Fieldwork
A period or trip to conduct research or participate in the “natural environment” of a
discipline or profession. Fieldwork may involve visiting a work site, such as a hospital or
nursing home, or being a part of a team gathering data or information.
Apprenticeship
A defined period of on-the-job training in which the student is formally doing the job and
learning specific skills. Unlike most internships, apprenticeships are usually formal
requirements to attain a license or gain employment in skilled trades, and they are
growing in use in health care, IT, transportation, and logistics.
Undergraduate
Research
Even as an undergrad, you may find opportunities to partake in actual research in your
field of study. Colleges often have strict guidelines on types and levels of participation,
and you will likely need to apply. The benefits include firsthand knowledge of a core
academic activity and exposure to more people in your field.
Related
It may be possible to get a regular, low-level paying job directly in your field of study or in
a related place of work. While it’s not essential, simply being around the profession will
Employment
better inform and prepare you.
Clinicals,
Student
Teaching, and
Related
Experiences
Health care, education, and other fields often have specific requirements for clinicals
(learning experience in health care facilities) or student teaching. These are often