Should you intern as a college freshman?
Your first year in college, and especially your first semester in college, is a transition period. You’re adapting to new surroundings, to new people and to new demands — taking on your first internship during this time could be a bit overwhelming. Focus first on adjusting to campus, excelling academically and making new friends, and then, if you feel like you have a good handle on campus life, you can take on a second-semester internship.
What are the advantages of taking on an internship freshman year?
- You should be able to receive college credit towards your degree. Talk to your career counselor about your school’s policy.
- You start to learn about your interests and expectations early on — from the type of work you want to do to the type of office environment that helps you thrive to the type of payment you want (Are you willing to take an unpaid internship, and if you do, was it worth it not receiving the compensation?).
- You’ll be ahead of the game. Come time for sophomore and junior year–the most important year in college to get an internship, you’ll feel far more confident as you conduct your internship search–from interview prep to intern resume tips. You know what to expect and how to make yourself a competitive candidate.
- You’ll start to build your career network early on — this network will provide you with people who can be mentors and advocates for you as you search for new jobs moving forward.
What type of internship should you take on?
If you’re not sure what kind of internship you want to apply for, schedule a meeting with your career center to speak to your counselor about your strengths, weaknesses and your thoughts on where you think you want to be after graduation. Don’t stress about deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life: Focus instead on what will interest you and what will be the best learning opportunity.
“Very few students I’ve met knew what they wanted to do freshman year and actually stuck with it,” says Liane Hadjuch, a former campus recruiter for Venmo, who is now the University Partnerships Manager at WayUp. As a freshman, you will have to try out a few different roles throughout college before you find your passion–and that’s completely normal. If you’re worried about getting hired when you don’t have experience, getting an internship freshman year can help you to get your feet wet in the professional world. You’ll learn new skills and general do’s and don’ts of office life.
Liane also recommends that second-semester freshmen apply for virtual internships. “They give you the flexibility to do meaningful work (and make money) while you’re on campus and often are more flexible in what class years they hire,” she says.
Remember that internships are your chance to find out what your interests are and where your talents lie, so if you feel like you’re ready, try something new and take advantage of a college internship your freshman year
