Internships Are Not Just For College
There are so many bones to pick when it comes to job searching. One of many is the seemingly lack of internships for non-college students and recent graduates. Obviously, they are out there, but not nearly as common as the ones for those with college credentials. Every time I come across one that looks good, it is asking for college students or recent graduates. No one should have to fall into this category to find an opportunity to gain work experience.
Internships are short-term training periods meant to gain work experience and/or school credit. There is nothing about them that indicates they should be for those with college experience. They should be open to everyone, regardless of their higher education status. There should be internships for those who want to gain more knowledge about their career, for those who want to explore a new career, etc. That is what an internship is about.
However, perhaps the reason why it seems that they are more geared towards the group is because, at some point, internships were seen as the "new" entry-level jobs. They have become more than just a position to gain experience and knowledge about an industry; they have essentially become the entry-level job. That's why it has become important to have completed one or two by the time you finish your undergraduate studies. It's not fair to see internships this way, as there are many factors that prevent someone from being able to complete one (especially if it's unpaid). However, as long as the job search is so competitive, internship seekers will find themselves in a frustrating situation.
Employers need to understand that internships are not just for college. They are for anyone who wants to gain experience and knowledge to understand the career they want to pursue. They are also a great opportunity to connect and network with others to expand your career. Yes, there can still be internships that help college students gain experience and knowledge and develop their careers. But there needs to be more internships that are accessible to anyone who is looking for an internship. This will give many more the opportunity to jump-start their careers, and who knows, it could even start leading the job search process to becoming less of a nightmare.
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