The Value of an Internship

Sarah Raymond - Career Services

At Montana Tech, Career Services is the office that can help you with internships. This is a great way to gain professional experience and to “test-drive” a career choice.

Other benefits of experiencing degree-related work include:

• Gain professional experience in the working-world – interviewing, working with others, communication skills, exposure to the culture of various work environments

• Enhance your resume

• Apply knowledge of classes and coursework in the real world

• Develop specific career skills and knowledge

• Create professional contacts and develop professional networks

• Learn new skills directly from experienced professionals

• Gain self-assurance and personal growth

• Receive academic credit, if you choose

• Earn possible income

• Explore career interests and clarify your career goals

Check out the information available online at http://www.mtech.edu/career/internship if you are interested in finding out more details about internships or stop by Career Services. It is easy to create your own internship, even if an employer doesn’t have a formalized internship program.

  The Internship Program is a structured academic program that formally integrates the classroom theory with related-work experience. Working in a supervised, degree-related position combined with academic degree work may qualify for you to receive academic credit in addition to the compensation for the position. However, in some industries the experience may be worth volunteering and only receive credit.

Career Services recommends that students consult with their faculty advisor and/or departmental Internship Coordinator to determine the availability of appropriate work experiences and the specific academic requirements for receiving credit.

  It is highly recommended that students gain degree-related experience before they graduate and depending upon your specific program it may be required. Internship credit is available at any time in their college career. Career Services can assist students with finding an established internship position and developing degree-related job opportunities. Planning and placement are key objectives in the internship experience.

Career Services tracks all experiential learning including summer jobs, internships and full-time placements whether for academic credit or not. This information helps assist prospective students with choosing Montana Tech, develop relationships with new employers, and can aid employers to remain competitive in hiring our students and graduates. Often, employers will want to know how many students are still looking for a job. This can help Career Services estimate whether an employer should visit campus to recruit students at Montana Tech. If you accept a position, please let Career Services know, there is an online from on the Career Services homepage. Your information is combined with people in degree areas and your person information is never reported.