Do Internships Actually Help You Get a Job? (Data Says Yes)

Internships significantly increase your chances of getting hired. Here's the data:

• 70% of interns receive a full-time job offer from their internship company (NACE)
  • Graduates with internship experience have 14% higher starting salaries on average
    • 85% of employers say they prefer candidates with internship experience
      
      Internships are one of the highest-ROI activities for college students and career changers.

1. Foot in the door: Companies use internships as extended interviews. If you perform well, you're first in line for full-time roles.

2. Real experience: "Managed social media accounts for Fortune 500 company" beats "Studied marketing in school."

3. Network: You build relationships with managers and employees who can refer you to jobs.

4. Skills: You learn industry tools and workflows you can't get in a classroom.

5. Resume credibility: Internships prove you can perform in a professional environment.

Paid internships are strongly preferred and more common in competitive fields:

• Average internship pay: $20-30/hour ($800-$1,200/week)
  • Tech internships: $30-50/hour or more
    • Unpaid internships are declining (legal issues + equity concerns)
      • Many states restrict unpaid internships to non-profits or academic credit
        
        Bottom line: Apply for paid internships whenever possible. Unpaid internships should only be considered if:
        • You receive academic credit
          • It's at a non-profit aligned with your values
            • You have no paid options and need the experience

Internships are most valuable when:

1. You're in college — Summer internships are expected in competitive fields
2. Changing careers — A 3-month internship can fast-track your transition
3. Breaking into competitive industries — Tech, finance, consulting, media
4. Building a network — Smaller companies or startups where you get mentorship

Internships are less valuable (or unnecessary) for:

• Careers with clear certification paths (teaching, nursing, accounting)
  • Fields where experience = freelance work (writing, design, photography)
    • Roles where self-directed projects show competence (coding, data analysis)