Student Outcomes
How do internships impact student career development and growth?
When students are on internships they also learn much more than what we teach or instruct in our daily classroom settings. At the same token, this is reality to many students. An eye opener for sure!
If we take nursing, for instance, internship allow students to identify which area of nursing they will be good at. They are able to create connections that may assist them later either in obtaining a great position or provide them with guidance for further education in the field. An internship program is a win-win for the school and for the students involved. The experience acquired during internship assist students in becoming more marketable in their field of study
Arvice,
That is very true! It is very important to always relay what students are learning in the classroom and in intern/externships to the so-called "real world."
Dr. James Willis III
Renette ,
You bring out some very good points here. You are definitely right that connections can be formed. It's important to guide students in understanding the importance of these connections; often, these will lead to a full-time position! It's also important, as you've noted, to remember that the more skills acquired, the more marketable the student. Great job!
Dr. James Willis III
I feel like internship is another way of teaching with hands on and the reality of the subject matter. In this environment, students learn better because it is a small group, one and one, and mind focus occurs. In addition, student feel that they ready to practice what they have learned in the classroom and to start putting it in practice. Therefore, internships impact student career development and growth in positive way.
Romane,
I very much agree; it is a positive experience for students. They have to put what they've learned into practice. You are right that often students learn better and more efficiently in groups or one-on-one!
Dr. James Willis III
I find that taking students to an internship site allows them to get into the real world of applying all they have learned in class. They learn how to interact with staff and clients. Students can use the skills and knowledge they have acquired thoughout the term.
Georgia,
Excellent points! The application of knowledge and skills is essential to workplace success. And, to reinforce one of your points, professionalism can be taught, but it's not really honed until the students begin working in the field. Great job!
Dr. James Willis III
Students will be able to apply learned skills during internships in their future work assignments. Moreover it will reinforce self-esteem and self-confidence in the value of work experience that they are having as part of their portfolio.
Jose,
Great point! Sometimes it's easy to overlook the value of self-confidence and self-esteem; you are correct that working in an internship is a great way to build those skills. Students can apply what they've learned in a classroom and build on their skills in an internship; this eventually leads to increased self-esteem and self-confidence. Great point!
Dr. James Willis III
This is an excellent opportunity for the student to determine if he wants to continue this line of occupation. I think that is probably one of the most valuable things about having this experience.
Joyce,
You're right that it does really depend on learning the facets of a particular occupation; internships are excellent for determining if an occupation is for the long-term or if more education is needed to make a change. Great point!
Dr. James Willis III
Internship allows students to build the confidence of being able to apply their academic experience to real life scenarios. This gives them a sense of accomplishment in finally applying their learning experience in a professional setting. This will provide feedback for personal growth for the student and give them a chance to be evaluated by individuals that are working in the actual field. Students need to learn how to accept constructive criticism from individuals in the professional world and at the same time develop networking skills.
Internships are great resume enhancements. Employers looking for experienced individuals would prefer a student who completed an internship rather than a student who only completed coursework. Coursework is standard and repeats itself. It is planned by the instructor with an identifiable result. Internships allow students to grow by introducing them to real life experiences and unexpected circumstances that may arise.
Internships can often expose students to other career options or help establish a career path for students. Operating inside a professional organization helps with the understanding of the necessary steps for a chosen career path or career goal. The internship provides an opportunity to build a mentor relationship that goes beyond the length of the internship.
Vickie,
Those mentorship opportunities are invaluable for students; with positive role models, they can learn professionalism, on-the-job ethics, and skills that otherwise wouldn't be available in a textbook. Then, hopefully, they will one day be mentors for the next generation...
Dr. James Willis III
These cannot be emphasized enough. Not only do students gain real-world experience, they also should gain interpersonal and professional skills that are not normally part of a curriculum.
Kassy,
I think you're very right when it comes to 'interpersonal skills.' This is not learned through a textbook, it's learned on-the-job. More importantly, it's often learned most acutely when one encounters someone of a very different (even contrarian) point-of-view in the workplace. Excellent point!
Dr. James Willis III
It helps students network for potential job openeings when they graduate. We always tell our students how important it is to do a great job at clinical sites because it is really a job interview.
