You need experience to gain experience. This little adage can put students and new graduates in quite a pickle when looking to obtain jobs in their chosen career field.
Getting that experience is often found though a great internship. Travis Credit Union strives to provide internships that offer real life experience to each individual. We have hired interns into departments throughout the organization, from Human Resources to Consumer Lending.
“I always love seeing our interns grow,” said Maria Gordon, senior recruiter in Human Resources. “They continue to do amazing things in their communities and their career fields.”
Some view internships negatively, namely believing interns don’t do anything except make coffee and photocopies. However, good internships, like the opportunities here at Travis, can provide value through different ways including:
1. Professional Working Environment Experience
For some, an internship could be the first experience to a professional environment. This could mean a lab with white coats, an office full of cubicles or archaeology field work. Knowing what your day to day environment is could make a big impact on whether you want to follow a career path or prepare you for your dream job.
2. College Credits Earned
There are a few times in life when you are presented with an opportunity to get paid at a job while also earning college credit. This is one of those times where you need to take advantage of the double pay scenario.
3. The Potential for Hire After
It’s all about who you know. When looking for a job lead, knowing people and letting them see your work ethic first hand is a great way to find employment. Often times, interns are hired after an internship. In the last five years, 50 interns at Travis Credit Union were offered and accepted full or part-time employment after their internship.
4. Hard and Soft Skills for your Resume
There is nothing like building skills in your chosen field by actually doing the things that you need to do to be a successful professional. However, internships often build more than hard skills. Learning how to navigate office politics, meeting etiquette and knowing how to handle the printer that never works under deadline are all skills you wouldn’t necessarily learn in a classroom, but could be invaluable to career advancement.
5. Make Industry Contacts
Similar to the reasoning described in tip number three and the truth about “it’s all about who you know,” making industry contacts can create career-long advantages. From knowing the background of a business move to finding a new job later, networking can be invaluable.