Internships: Bridging a gap between you and the real world

What would you do if you were presented with an opportunity to test drive the future career that you've chosen for yourself? An opportunity such as this may seem unbelievable, but with the help of FCCJ's Career Development Centers, which are located at the Downtown, South, North, and Kent campuses, students are given the chance to make that opportunity become a reality.

"Students can only learn so much from books," said Katie Meyer-Griffth, counselor coordinator of the Career Development Center at Kent Campus. "Internships allow you to find something that fits your personality and in the meantime gain hands-on experience and college credit."

For students seeking to attain an A.S. degree at FCCJ, internships are required so that the student may obtain relevant work experience in their career field. Some of the FCCJ programs for A.S. students that involve internships are Biotechnology, Interior Design, Accounting, and Paralegal studies. The full list of the programs of study can be found on the FCCJ website and any questions concerning internships in that program may be answered by the program manager.

As for students who are pursuing an A.A. degree and do not have any connections for an internship, the Career Development Center is there to aid them in finding an internship that fits their intended career path.

"The Career Development Center is here to help the process," said Meyer-Griffith, "when it comes to internships, employers look for specific skills." What the Career Development Center does is meets with employers, finds out about internship opportunities, and then informs students about these opportunities."

An example of a current internship that is being offered to students is the International Affairs Fellowship, which is hosted by the UNCFSP Institute for International Public Policy. This internship consists of training to help prepare the interns to address the contemporary international policy problems throughout the world. This opportunity is available to five college sophomores who are pursuing future careers in international affairs. Applications are being accepted until March 15 and students can go to www.uncfsp.org/iipp to apply.

When it comes to attaining an internship, not only are students being given the chance to gain experience in their chosen career and form valuable connections with individuals who work in the field, but employers are also being given the chance to identify talent by giving the student a test run in their company. For some students, an internship may even result in a job with the company.

There are many resources for students looking to acquire an internship. The first step that a student may want to take is to go to a Career Development Center and ask about any internship opportunities. Another way that the Career Development Center helps students is by offering resume reviews to ensure that a student's resume is tailored precisely to the internship that they seek. The other options students have are to talk to any faculty and get involved with any campus organizations that deal with their field of interest.

By utilizing all of the resources that are offered through FCCJ, a student will be able to find an internship that is fit for them, thus bringing them one step closer to discovering what they are truly passionate about.