Why Are Internships Important?

by Kimberly Alvarado

Every Journalism and PR student at Long Beach State University it is required to take an internship class.

So what is an Internship? And why is it beneficial to me?

An internship is a position a student take to work at a job site in order to gain experience or fulfill requirements for qualifications. At CSULB it is a genius idea to require students to work at an internship because it brings in with several benefits to students, and the school.

At internships you gain valuable work experience, in some fields, it is now required to have at least one internship before applying. Internships give students a taste what the real workforce is like while you're still a student. Working at an internship is a great resume builder. You will be able to create samples that can be added to your student portfolio to showcase accomplishments you have done. In addition, internships help you gain exposure to real work that school cannot always offer. It also helps students understand and build professionalism prior to completing their bachelors degree.

Internships can also help you decide whether you want to pursue the path you have always planned to or revert from the field you were once interested. It is a good idea to start internships early as possible to really know if you are interested in your current field major or not.

At internships, you build and learn new skills that can be extremely beneficial once you join the workforce after graduation. Internships are a great way to be meet new people with similar interest as you and the capability to network with them.

Ultimately CSULB care about their students and want to see their students grow into professionals by preparing them to get their feet wet. Internships open so many doors, so get prepared and look for your future internship!