How students can jumpstart their career with Handshake at Herkimer College
Let’s face it, the job market can be competitive, especially after graduation. But there is a way you can get prepared for your career and gain the necessary skills that recruiters are looking for and that’s by taking part in an internship. Internships have many benefits, so we compiled a list of the best reasons why you should consider an internship.
- Gain Real World Experience
- Internships integrate classroom knowledge with real world experience and help students learn skills needed for their career path. Being able to apply skills you’ve learned in the classroom to an internship is a great way to gain hands-on experience.
- Networking
- With an internship, you’ll most likely be placed in a real working environment. One of the benefits of working alongside other professionals is the ability to network. Leaving a great impression on professionals in your career field can open many doors post-grad. Step up to the plate when you arrive, and your mentor will remember you for future opportunities.
- Learn Professional Skills
- Not only are you learning skills in your career field, but you’re also gaining professional skills that can be applied anywhere. Communication, leadership, problem-solving and teamwork are necessary skills for any working environment and by doing an internship, you’ll get first-hand experience applying these skills.
- Build your Resume
- Having that extra professional experience will upgrade your resume. It’s great to get involved in clubs on campus, but it’s also beneficial to have an internship or even a part-time job. That extra professional experience on your resume will show recruiters you’ve got what it takes to enter the workforce after graduation.
- Get some professional feedback
- In an internship, you’ll get feedback from professionals in your future field and learn skills from them as well. You could get straight A’s in all your classes and still need to work on your professional skills. An internship will teach you skills that you might not have learned in the classroom.
- Figure out what you like and don’t like
- Maybe you didn’t have the best experience in your internship…there’s a silver lining: you know what kind of job you DON’T like. Spend time with your mentor and observe what their daily work is like. If it seems like something you wouldn’t want to do, look into other paths in your future career field. An internship can also highlight the things you do like and you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for after you finish college.
- Possible Job Opportunities
- If you did a great job of proving yourself to be ready for the professional world, it’s possible you could land a permanent job from your internship. After your internship, your employer might see that you are an asset to the team and offer you a job post-graduation. An internship can be a great way to get yourself set up for your future.
So how can Handshake help you get that internship?
Handshake is the best way for college students to connect with companies, learn about employment and internship opportunities, and keep updated on student recruitment events and workshops happening on campus. The Handshake platform has 1,200+ college and university partners including Central New York colleges such as Hamilton College, Utica College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and MVCC. Herkimer College is keeping pace with the regional institutions and ensuring that our students have access to jobs and internships in our region and beyond. Handshake has 550K+ employers, including 100% of the Fortune 500 companies. Through Herkimer College Career Service’s partnership with Handshake, students can access their account either by clicking on the Handshake icon on the MyHerkimer portal, or by downloading the Handshake app right to their phone. Handshake extends the reach of our Career Services office by providing students 24/7 access to information on upcoming on-campus student recruitment events and workshops, as well as automated e-mail notifications of new jobs and events. Check out this infographic to help get you started!
