Resume builder.
Having an internship on your resume shows you’ve had experience and can handle working in the real world. Noting specific projects you’ve worked on or well-known people you have worked under can give you an edge when you are up against equally-skilled applicants.

Constructive criticism.
If you’re taking the internship for credit, your employer will be required to meet with you and submit an evaluation of your job performance. This will allow you to interact with a professional in your field of interest and determine your own strengths and weaknesses.

Personal growth.
An internship will help bring the self-confidence and maturity which will guide you through your career. The experience will also prepare you for life after college by providing the opportunity to integrate your values with your work.

“With my experience at the company, I have developed more confidence in myself in an office environment and it just helped me learn the basic office information that everyone needs to know,” says Christine, a 21-year-old finance intern.

Testing the waters.
One of the greatest benefits of taking advantage of an internship is to test the waters. After three months, you may realize that you don’t want to be in that industry at all. Instead of putting time and energy into getting the job you thought you wanted, you can cross it off your list and give another interest a try. On the contrary, if after those three months you realize that it is the industry you belong in, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.