Learning by doing. Now doesn’t that sound like fun?
Each student has unique interests, strengths, and skills, so there is no “one size fits all” formula for gaining applied experience in and outside the classroom. Experiential learning can take many forms: undergraduate research, studies abroad, community engagement, clinicals, practicums, or internships.
In an internship, students apply classroom theories to real world workplace settings under the guidance of an experienced supervisor. If your student is looking at completing an internship during their time at UP, whether independently or while earning academic credit, here are four tips for parents to help them along the journey.
1. Empower students to be okay with exploring.
There certainly are students who know the type of internship they want to go after. However, the far more common experience is for students to have a rough sense of what they’re good at and interested in, but not be sure what careers exist that complements both their skills and passions. Internships are designed to be temporary, an 8–12 week “test run” where interns get to explore one organization to see if it’s a good cultural fit or if that field aligns with their interests. If they thrive in their internship? Great! If they don’t love their position or company–better to know now, and try something else next time!
Remind your student that they’ll develop transferable skills regardless of their specific tasks and projects. When talking about finding an internship, please help frame it as one exploratory step in their career education process, and not a lifelong commitment to said organization.
2. Mentor, don’t manage, their internship search.
You have likely applied for jobs. Help your student set realistic expectations and understand the realities of job searching. Coach them through making connections, pursuing multiple possibilities, and following up on introductions and leads. However, let them take the initiative. Students are learning lifelong job search skills by being active participants in this process.
3. Encourage them to start early!
There are on-campus employer events throughout the fall and spring semester, and an abundance of opportunities via Handshake. If your student starts thinking about internships at this point in the year, then they will have time to attend events, network over the holidays, and conduct informational interviews without looming pressure and the time crunch of summer nearing. Help them plan ahead and encourage them to visit the Career Center for support. (By early, I also mean that first-year students and sophomores can benefit from a summer internship!)
4. Provide support throughout the process.
Finding an internship certainly is a process that can often take months and feel discouraging. Your consistent support will help your student build resilience and keep at it when they’re feeling frustrated or unqualified. Affirm who you know them to be, regardless of what they do next summer.
After a lot of dedication and hard work, your student will finally get that sweet offer letter, and the fun and learning will just be getting started! For some internship inspiration, check out our Intern Stories page to see how a variety of UP students spent their summer and what they learned.
Audrey Fancher serves as the Internship & Engagement Coordinator in the Career Center. She works with employers to develop and promote internship opportunities, and coordinates with students, clubs, and organizations to collect and tell Pilot internship stories. She also works with UP staff and faculty to coordinate employer events and track internships. Audrey entered this experiential learning field by coordinating and supervising a documentary program abroad for university students after working in international education and trademark law. She cares deeply about the self-discovery and professional development that occurs when students participate in a quality internship!