If you’ve been wanting a summer internship but don’t have one landed just yet, don’t worry! There is still time to find a summer internship, and here are the 5 biggest myths about internships that can slow down your search.
If you want to take the next step to finding a summer internship, we encourage you to connect with your career advisor or a peer advisor to start your internship search! You can schedule career advising appointments on PCO under the appointments tab (www.du.edu/PCO), and you can find the peer advising drop in schedule HERE.
Myth #1: Your internship determines the rest of your career.
An internship is a great way to “try out” a career field without committing to it. All internships have some sort of learning component to them, and the purpose of them is to help you develop skills and clarify if you want to continue seeking that type of work in the future. Remember you always have the freedom to change your mind!
Myth #2: You need prior related experience.
You do not need prior related experience for most internships! While they do often ask for certain skills, you likely have learned these skills in other settings, like classes, clubs, or other experiences. We call these “transferrable skills” because they transfer from one type of work to another. Examples include communication skills, time management skills, etc.
Myth #3: All internships are unpaid.
Incorrect! While some internships are unpaid, many are paid or have an equivalent payment or stipend. Pro tip: All the internships posted in PCO tell if you if they are unpaid or not!
Myth #4: I’ll just be making copies and getting coffee as an intern.
It’s a stereotype that interns only do menial tasks – internships often include attending team meetings, regular meetings with a supervisor, goal setting activities, and special projects or assignments to help develop your learning. Sure, you might have to make copies once and a while, but that won’t be all you’re doing!
Myth #5: An internship isn’t worth it.
While it can be tough to “give up” some of your precious summertime to complete an internship, we have found that getting experiences like internships is a critical factor in your success after you graduate from DU. So be intentional about getting more experiences and building your skills for your future!
If you want to take the next step to finding a summer internship, we encourage you to connect with your career advisor or a peer advisor to start your internship search! You can schedule career advising appointments on PCO under the appointments tab (www.du.edu/PCO), and you can find the peer advising drop in schedule HERE.