There is no doubt that the job market is rough. Although we are coming out of the recession, jobs — most especially, good jobs for recently graduated students — are hard to come by. The way for students to combat this ever-growing problem is to gain experience. But how many of us have asked the question, “How am I supposed to gain necessary job experience when no one will give me the chance to gain experience?”
The answer? Internships.
A CNN article titled “Why are internships so important?” quotes Melissa Benca, the director of career services at Marymount Manhattan College, who says, “Graduating students with paid or unpaid internships on their résumé have a much better chance at landing a full-time position upon graduation.” Each major within the university should require students to complete at least one internship for credit prior to graduation.
One university that has implemented this requirement is Longwood University in Virginia. According to U.S. News and World Report, in 2008 74 percent of Longwood’s graduating class obtained jobs within six months of graduating. This number is even more impressive because 2008 was a horrible year for the job market.
While students might argue that they do not have time for an internship, especially with work, other classes and social activities, if an internship were a required class, then the time would already be set aside for the internship. Many internships are available that allow students to work from home and participate in online meetings instead of meeting at a physical location each day. There are also internships available that only require five to 10 hours of work per week. These types of internships would allow students to gain valuable internship experience while also being able to maintain a job, good grades and a social life.
For the U, implementing this requirement would be very doable. Each major could replace one elective with an internship requirement. The internships could range from one to four credit hours depending on the amount of time each of the internships required.
Making internships a priority — and a requirement — for graduation would help set the U apart from other universities. More importantly however, it would prepare students for the world outside of the university and help them land that dream job upon graduation.