5 answers
Zachary
Student
Shorewood, Illinois
1
Question
Asked
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How often do internships turn into a full time job?
As I am looking at colleges, I keep on finding out how important internships are. A question that I have is just once in the internship, how common is it for that place to become your new workplace? If it is common, is it always better to stay with the company that you are with? #aerospace-engineering #technology #engineering
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Peter Sturtevant
Retired Civil Engineer
252
Answers
Kent, Washington
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Internships are great opportunities to gain job experience. And prior job experience can be a major factor in rising to the top of a pile of resumes submitted for an entry level engineering job out of college. So even if you are not offered a permanent position, an internship is almost always a very worthwhile endeavor.
Good Luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE
Good Luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE
Hi Peter! Thank you so much for the amazing advice that you provided to Zachary above! I had a few additional questions I wanted to ask out of curiosity:
1. Do you know what types of jobs tend to convert interns into full-time personnel?
2. In your experience, what should someone think about when deciding whether or not to accept a full-time role after completing an internship? Any personal thoughts or experience you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance.
-David
David Ohta
COACH
Peter Sturtevant
Retired Civil Engineer
252
Answers
Kent, Washington
Updated
Peter’s Answer
To David Ohta:
To answer your follow-up questions:
I must state that I never held an intern-type job. I worked my way through college working at the San Diego Public Library, which provided me the money to pay for college. But I have known people who did intern work.
1) I imagine that it is more likely that an internship for a private company would turn to a full-time job. With internships with public agencies, the internship positions tend to be completely independent of full-time, permanent positions. The latter are very strictly defined and the department heads have much less freedom to simply hire a good, promising intern.
2) As to factors in deciding whether to accept a permanent position growing out of an internship....
You will have seen the "inside" of the company or department as an intern. Is the professional atmosphere a good one? Will you get along with your new boss? Is the permanent position is a Field that you really want to go into? Are you being offered a decent starting salary?
It may be that you can do considerably better by looking around and interviewing at other places, especially given the natural advantage of having worked an internship to begin with. These are things you will have to personally evaluate, yourself.
Pete Sturtevant, PE
To answer your follow-up questions:
I must state that I never held an intern-type job. I worked my way through college working at the San Diego Public Library, which provided me the money to pay for college. But I have known people who did intern work.
1) I imagine that it is more likely that an internship for a private company would turn to a full-time job. With internships with public agencies, the internship positions tend to be completely independent of full-time, permanent positions. The latter are very strictly defined and the department heads have much less freedom to simply hire a good, promising intern.
2) As to factors in deciding whether to accept a permanent position growing out of an internship....
You will have seen the "inside" of the company or department as an intern. Is the professional atmosphere a good one? Will you get along with your new boss? Is the permanent position is a Field that you really want to go into? Are you being offered a decent starting salary?
It may be that you can do considerably better by looking around and interviewing at other places, especially given the natural advantage of having worked an internship to begin with. These are things you will have to personally evaluate, yourself.
Pete Sturtevant, PE
Esther Smith
Senior Trainer
28
Answers
United States
Updated
Esther’s Answer
Definitely taking advantage of any internship opportunities that come your way! Many of my friends got jobs in difficult to break-in industries by working there as an intern first. Even if you don't like working there, you'll get valuable insights into the business and will have referrals for the job that you do want!
Susan Castillo
Senior Trainer - Consumer Sales
12
Answers
Updated
Susan’s Answer
Here is an article from Forbes that will provide some insight into the importance of Internships.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/07/25/odds-are-your-internship-will-get-you-a-job/2f3ec89162e5
Most importantly, an Internship will give you real experience in your field of study and will boost your resume.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/07/25/odds-are-your-internship-will-get-you-a-job/2f3ec89162e5
Most importantly, an Internship will give you real experience in your field of study and will boost your resume.
Katie Nelson
Network Project Manager
3
Answers
Updated
Katie’s Answer
It is common for interns to become full-time employees, especially if you do a great job. I can also say your internship helps you open other doors if you do not work for the company that you intern with.
I think the better question is are you happy with the company you are with and are they happy with you? If that is the case stay with the company you are with and enjoy it.
I highly recommend doing an internship, it was the best decision I made.
I think the better question is are you happy with the company you are with and are they happy with you? If that is the case stay with the company you are with and enjoy it.
I highly recommend doing an internship, it was the best decision I made.