Imagine the perfect Internship Just for you!
Just think of the possibilities:
A Disney Intern?
Working with Dolphins?
Ever wanted to be a part of the Secret Service?
These are all intern options for you!
What is an internship and how is it beneficial to my future?
An internship is essentially an introductory work experience in a professional career field. Internships are usually unpaid, meaning you work for free in exchange for valuable work experience and the opportunity to build connections in the field you are interested in.
Usually, you will be “shadowing” someone in your career field, learning from them each step of the way. While this may sound like a position that is less than your abilities, it will usually provide a valuable return on your investment of time as well as give you insight into if this is a career you would want to do long term.
Before committing to an internship, it is important to understand the commitment you are making, the length of the internship and what you will be receiving in return.
Some internships will provide housing and travel compensation while some internships are even virtual. Internships are a great way to break into competitive fields. In fact, when you are an intern, you are effectively setting yourself apart from your competition by gaining valuable experience. Internships are the perfect resume builder.
I had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of hosting a college intern in my home one summer. I was contacted by a local company who was inviting 3 summer interns to help their company for the summer. While at first glance, many wouldn’t think it was a great opportunity. In fact, not only was the college student expected to work 40 hrs. per week, they were also expected to find and pay for their own housing and their own expenses for the summer.
The company the intern was to work for was a rising talent in the industry. The company was CRU with Darbie Angell. Darbie is an amazing entrepreneur who is changing the lives of women across the globe as well as making beautiful products. The opportunity for this young college student wasn’t monetary but rather a once in a lifetime experience to be a part of the design industry and an opportunity to build valuable connections and learn directly from an expert in the industry.
I gave, Lizzie, the intern a guest bedroom in my home. She was a delight and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of helping her build her bright future. She spent many long hours that summer doing very odd jobs and working very hard to help Darbie Angell build her business. She didn’t get paid a dollar but what she did gain was experience she wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. She now has a connection to someone vey powerful in her industry as well as connections she made that will last a lifetime. She was very intentional about nurturing the connections she made. She invited them to connect with her on LinkedIn and began networking with those industry leaders as she began her own career.
When looking for your own opportunity, I encourage you to find people that you want to learn from, find the greats in the industry and ask if you can be a part of what they are doing. At Imagine, we have internships and $9 billion dollars in scholarships on our site, Imagine Scholarships. I’ve included some of my favorite internships below.
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Library of Congress Internships
While it may seem awkward at first, take a chance and reach out to the industry leaders you want to learn from. Search our Imagine site and look on the internet for internships that interest you. Be consistent and persistent and find the perfect internship for you!
