Frequently interns participate in meetings, work on special projects, and meet with senior managers to which a part-time employee would not have access. There are other benefits to internships, as well. If a student is successful in his or her internship, the supervisor can be extremely helpful in helping students define their future plans. The internship supervisor frequently becomes an important mentor and, often, a great source for a recommendation. Lastly, many students find great job leads through their internships and the people with whom they work.
Students can do internships at any point in their academic career.
Some internships are completed over the summer, while others occur throughout the fall or spring semesters. Many students will do more than one internship, using their summers and a semester. This way the student can experience a number of different settings and develop a wide range of job-related skills. It is critical that students check with their advisor or dean's office to make sure that their plan for an internship meets the requirements set by that School. Some students even choose to do summer or year-long internships after graduation to gain experience in Washington, DC or a foreign country, with a particular industry, or a company's special program.