Internship opportunities are a wonderful way for students to try out their career to validate for themselves if they have made the right career choices. They provide students with real work experience to assist them when they pursue employment opportunities after graduation. Internship experiences vary in regard to their characteristics. Some internships are highly competitive and require students to possess specific characteristics (i.e., specific majors, gpa requirements, course work or other knowledge or skills). Others are less rigid. Some internships provide the student with a salary or stipend, others provide no monetary reward at all. Despite the differences in characteristics, the internship experience itself is what is most valuable to the student. Upon graduation as students seek positions in a highly competitive workforce, opportunities for students with experience exceed those for students who lack related experience. This is where the internship experience often proves its value. The internship provides the student with work related experience and references which can become a crucial factor as employment decisions and job offers are made. In most instances then, whether paid or unpaid, the internship experience usually proves its value and is an important resource to take advantage of. Poll | Goal Setting | Quiz | Experts Say | Links