Q&A talks about internships with Linda Roy, assistant director of operations, internships and event management at Trinity College.
Q: What percentage of Trinity students do internships? How has the percentage of internships changed over the years? Does the number remain steady? What, if anything, makes it fluctuate?
A: Our commitment to be an engaged member of the Hartford community is strong, and we currently have more than 200 internships with local employers. We also are expanding opportunities geographically, as more and more students are conducting internships during the summer in metro areas along the East Coast and across the country. Trinity students have access to a wide variety of work environments, including nonprofits, corporate settings and governmental agencies. Trinity takes great pride in the breadth of its internship programs and the growing level of student participation, with close to 50 percent of students completing one or more before graduation. Trinity’s Internship Program was established in 1980 and since then has grown to over 100 students per semester. Students are increasingly aware that internships are now an essential first step in establishing a career.
Q: What role do internships play in determining a student’s future career path? Do most students end up following the career in the area they first interned? Do you track that?
A: Internships are an integral part of the college learning experience, and students are encouraged by Trinity faculty and staff to conduct at least one during their undergraduate study. Internships are an excellent way to test a career interest that can then be helpful in seeking a summer job or planning a career path. Additionally, internships help students build a network of contacts, secure references for future jobs and develop on-the-job skills. Students gain hands-on experience by working with professionals and learn tangible skills from spreadsheet analysis to computer graphics to public speaking, all helping to uncover their interests and talents and further narrow their career focus. Trinity’s Career Services Office conducts a senior survey that tracks career placement.
Q: Have internships changed much in the last 10 years? The perception used to be that interns were cheap (or free) labor to stuff envelopes. How has that perception changed?
A: The biggest change over the past 10 years is how important and competitive internships have become. Trinity’s internship program is specifically designed to enhance overall learning objectives for our students by giving them exposure to a particular career. We review all applications from potential employers to be sure that each student’s time in the field is productive and useful, and to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn new skills and obtain firsthand experience and insight into a particular organization.
In this increasingly competitive economic arena, students understand that internships are valuable steppingstones to future jobs and therefore are eager for exposure to the day-to-day workings in their chosen field. Our students are aware that many employers are increasingly looking for internship experience from students, even for entry-level jobs. It can be a differentiator among job applicants, as it demonstrates sincere interest in a particular field.
Q: Telecommuting has become popular are some corporations. Are there virtual internships? Do students “intern” in New York City while living on campus, for example?
A: The main objective of an internship is to get students out of the classroom and into the community to become familiar with the day-to-day activities, environment and goals of a specific business. Many part-time positions held by students during high school have not prepared them for what they can learn during quality internships, including understanding work standards and procedures, operating as a productive member of a team, building relationships with co-workers, and how to dress and work in a structured environment. Virtual internships don’t expose students to these valuable experiences. Also, with the growing importance of networking in procuring employment opportunities, “face” time with other employees and supervisors is of tremendous value.
Q: What do businesses need to do to start an internship program? Is it something only open to large corporations or can smaller companies have a program too?
A: Any company, large or small, can benefit from an internship program. There are organizations that offer excellent resources and assistance to employers who want to create an internship program. They are the National Society for Experiential Education, the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the Cooperative Education and Internships Association.
