If you’re looking for some work experience or looking to pursue a passion, internships can be a great way to do that! Internships are programs that allow someone to gain experience in a particular industry or profession. They help to develop useful skills that will apply to a real job in that field, and many of these skills can even be applied to other fields as well! Some internships pay you while some don’t, but the experience that you gain can be much more valuable, so all internships should be kept in mind. Here are five reasons why you should consider participating in one.
 

1. They develop soft skills that are useful regardless of profession. Soft skills include responsibility, teamwork, and time management, and unlike technical skills that are specific to that specialization (which you also develop and are still valuable), they can be applied to any job. Since soft skills are so flexible, you’re effectively preparing not only for that specific field, but also for other fields, as there are many jobs that will require you to work with others and take initiative.

2. They allow you to explore interests. Especially if you’re in high school, you may not know what you want to pursue in the future. Participating in an internship that involves an interest will give you more insight into that field and allow you to decide whether it’s something you want to pursue, potentially alongside similar options, without the weight of a full-on job.

3. They’re a great way to build confidence. While the environment of an internship may be similar to that of an actual job, you have room to make mistakes, since interns are not expected to have a lot of experience. This means that unless you’re being disruptive or unproductive, you’re not likely to get ejected after a few mistakes and they can be used as learning experiences. Learning from the mistakes you make will prepare you for similar situations in future jobs and can build confidence, since you won’t have to be as worried about mistakes in an environment that is not as forgiving.

4. Internships allow you to network. There is a lot of competition for jobs these days, especially in certain fields, which can make it difficult to find a job opening. This is why networking – the development of connections with others – is extremely useful. In fact, according to a 2016 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University, 70% of jobs are found through networking. Not only should you participate in an internship, but you should give bosses and peers the best impression of you, because they could potentially offer you job opportunities after your internship has ended. It’s important to be respectful not only to your boss, but your co-workers as well, as they could not only help you out as well, but you also never know who you’re going to be working for in the future.

5. They help build your resume. Employers want to see candidates who have already developed the skills necessary to succeed in their company. Even if the internship you participate in doesn’t have anything to do with a job you’ll apply for in the future, putting it on your resume is still infinitely more helpful than not having anything because of the experience you gain and the soft skills you develop.