5 Benefits of a Marketing Internship
In the world of marketing (and nearly any other niche for that matter), it can be quite difficult to get the proverbial foot in the door at a reputable business. After looking at job after job that requires 3-5 years of experience for an entry-level position, it can be quite easy to become frustrated.
That’s where internships come into play.
Internships are one of the best ways for college students to get their foot in the door for potential jobs right out of school. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, students who took paid internships had a 72% better chance of receiving a job offer.
Those are great odds for students who haven’t even graduated yet.
That’s why this post will discuss the 5 primary benefits of working as a marketing intern.
Gain Experience
As a college student, it can be quite difficult to find someone who is willing to let you get hands-on experience in your target industry. Since most job openings, including entry-level jobs, require some sort of experience in that industry, internships are often the only way that a student can gain that experience.
Learning in the classroom through discussion and texts is one thing, but actually working on a business’ marketing plan is a whole other opportunity. An even bigger bonus for students in this generation is that many older executives and employees are less familiar with digital marketing, so you will have the chance to make a real impact.
Accumulate Evidence
In addition to adding experience to your resume, an internship lets you start collecting actual data that proves you are able to create an impact for the businesses you work with.
For example, if you manage a social media marketing campaign, you can sit down and compile a portfolio of the metrics that you used in your campaign. It’s incredibly powerful to be able to show a company hard data of what you accomplished as an intern.
Increasing Your Network
Networking.
It’s a term that you hear throughout college, and you’re probably so sick of it by the time you graduate. However, there’s definite truth to the idea that your network is the most important thing that you can build. Even if you have a great resume, it doesn’t matter if you can’t get anybody to look at it.
The cold hard truth is that the job market is now so competitive that there is only a slight chance that your resume will even get looked at by a recruiter if you are applying cold.
However, it is much different if you have a contact within a company. A recent study published on LinkedIn found that over 80% of job openings are filled via networking.
The contacts that you make through your internship are some of the most valuable connections that you will have made in your life. These are the people who know people that are hiring for the position that you want.
If you impress them and they like you, you will be significantly more likely to find a job.
Increase Your Confidence
One problem that many college students (and even recent grads) face is that they are not confident in their skill set when being compared to a more experienced candidate.
However, there is something empowering about being trusted with a real job in a real company with real consequences and results.
When a college student is placed into an internship and sees that they are actually able to do the job that they have been training for, there’s no question that it gives them more confidence in their preparation for the working world.
In addition, when an intern goes to interview for a full-time job, they’ve got more confidence as they are showing up with references, a portfolio, and real talking points.
Earning a Job
The holy grail of an internship is that you get hired on at that same company (if that’s what you want). In the end, that’s what it’s all about. If you’re able to impress your employer, then it’s highly likely that they are going to want to fill their positions with candidates who already understand the company’s work culture and expectations.
Whether you’re a student or an employer, internships can be a win-win situation if handled properly. Interns gain real experience, and employers gain a worker who is hungry to prove themselves and may even have skills not already present on the current staff.
Have you have ever been an intern or are someone who has hired an intern? What do you think are the biggest benefits of the internship experience?
Comment below, and let us know!