OVERHEARD IN THE RECRUITING LOUNGE is a weekly feature on things going on in the recruiting side of CCD.

To intern or not to intern?

That is the question.

A senior came into the office last week, wondering whether he should get an internship after graduation instead of a full time job.  I offered up a very eloquent answer: “It depends.”

There are some internships out there that are designed specifically for graduating seniors or students (like those on co-op) with full time availability.  Many of these positions last anywhere from 3-9 months and can be great segues into the company or industry of your choosing.  On the flip side, there are a bunch of internships that are not open to seniors or recent graduates and may be for just juniors (or sometimes sophomores) only.  In that case, you would be inelgible to apply and probably wasting your time.

Often times, employers use internships as a “test drive” so to speak for employment candidacy.  Just like before you buy a car, you take it out, kick the tires, practice some parallel parking and k-point turns… employers pretty much do the same in an internship.  Sure they aren’t “Kicking” your tires, but they are trying to test how well you will hold up in the company?  Do you have the right skills?  Are you a fit?  Just like the car purchase, hiring a new employee is a big deal - you want to make sure everything is going to work out right.  As a result, many employers typically reserve spaces in their hiring classes for students who have previously interned with them.  But many times these openings are 1-2 years after the student has interned.  As a result, it may not be likely that you take on an internship, as a college graduate, and get offered a position that starts right after the internship ends.

That being said, this does not mean that you should give up on internships.  Like I said, there are some great internships out there that are perfect for recent college grads.  But here are some things to consider if you decide to go the internship route:

• Experience. Is this going to be a worthwhile experience?  Or are you just trying to bide your time until you get a full time job?
• Money.  Will you be able to support yourself off of the money from the internship?  Or will you need to get another job to try to make ends meet?
• Benefits.  Often times, students get kicked off their parent’s health insurance within 6 months of graduation.  Will your internship provide you with medical benefits?
• Offer. Do you expect to get an offer at the end of the internship? Is the company even hiring full time employees at this time? Don’t forget to keep your resume in mind.  Once you’ve graduated, you will need to account for all the time on your resume - and job hopping is always frowned down upon.

For some of you, especially those taking some time of before you apply to grad school or other opportunities, an internships may be a great idea.  For others, a full time job is going to be a better solution to your personal needs.  Think about your situation and evaluate what makes the most sense.  Don’t forget CCD is here to help you out if you need a sounding board to help weigh your options.