The day’s finally here—you’re graduating! After countless hours of lectures, homework, and extracurriculars, and all the effort it took to keep up your GPA, you’re finally ready to take that walk across the stage to grab your diploma.
Now you’re stepping into a whole new chapter of life, one filled with excitement, curiosity, and maybe a bit of anxiety, too. The transition from college to the full-time job market brings plenty of questions. Where do you start your job search? What kind of work environment is right for you? Should you consider a master’s degree? If you’re looking to gain extra experience and test the waters of a full-time position, one question might stand out: Can I get an internship after graduation?
Applying for an internship after graduation can be a great alternative to jumping straight into a full-time job—especially if you’re still figuring out your career path. Internships give you the chance to build valuable connections and gain hands-on experience that many employers are looking for. In this blog, we’ll dive into why an internship after graduation can be such a smart move, and we’ll walk you through the steps to help you land one.
- Can You Do an Internship after Graduation?
- What Is an Internship All About?
- What Are the Pros of Applying for an Internship after Graduation?
- How to Get an Internship after Graduation
- How to Tailor Your Resume for Internship after Graduation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
Can You Do an Internship After Graduation?
The answer is a resounding yes! Just because you have your diploma doesn’t mean it’s too late to consider an internship after graduation.
In fact, an internship after graduation can give you hands-on experience and clarity as you shape your early career goals. It’s a great way to learn and grow in your industry without fully committing to a specific field. If you’re still exploring options, interning lets you gain practical experience and discover different areas of work that might suit you.
As an intern, you’ll build connections with the people training you, which can be incredibly helpful for making more informed career decisions. Internships are flexible—they usually last only a few months, giving you time to reflect on your education and figure out how you want to apply it. Plus, people understand you’re there to learn, so they’re often happy to guide and support you.
One thing to keep in mind is whether the internship is paid. Not all internships offer a paycheck, so think about your financial situation and how it might impact your choice. If you’re leaning toward an internship but need income, you could consider a part-time job outside of your intern hours to make it work.
What Is an Internship All About?
An internship is a valuable professional learning experience that offers you meaningful, hands-on work in your chosen field or career area. It’s a chance for you to explore different career paths, build your skills, and gain real-world experience.
An internship after graduation can benefit you by further developing your talent, and even building a potential pipeline for future full-time roles.
A quality internship after graduation:
- Consists of a part-time or full-time work schedule that includes no more than 25% clerical or administrative duties.
- Provides a clear job/project description for the work experience.
- Orients you to the organization, its culture, and proposed work assignments.
- Helps you develop and achieve learning goals.
- Offers regular feedback to you.
As an intern, you should expect:
- To gain real work experience and provide meaningful assistance to the company.
- To have a mentor who provides guidance, feedback, receptiveness, and models professionalism.
- To gain experience and skills in a particular field.
- To develop professional contacts.
- To gain exposure to upper management.
- To receive an orientation to the company for which you are interning. This introduces you to the company’s mission and goals and provides you with information about company rules, regulations and procedures.
What is the difference between an internship, cooperative education (co-op), and research experience?
An internship after graduation is a supervised, structured learning experience in a professional setting that lets you gain real-world experience in your chosen field. These internships typically require a commitment of at least 120 hours.
Co-ops, on the other hand, are paid positions where you alternate between full-time work during one semester and full-time academic study during the next, for at least two semesters.
Research opportunities can be found both on- and off-campus. These experiences give you a deeper understanding of your academic interests and can even help you decide if graduate school might be part of your future path.
What Are the Pros of Applying for an Internship after Graduation?
Many companies and organizations offer internships after graduation. Here are just a few of the great reasons to consider undertaking one after you graduate.
1. Gain experience
An internship after graduation gives you hands-on practice in your field, allowing you to apply everything you learned in school in a real-world setting. Having an internship on your resume can give you a leg up in the job market, helping you stand out from candidates who might have the degree but lack direct experience.
2. Discover different career paths
Internship after graduation can introduce you to different roles and sectors, helping you figure out what truly motivates and interests you. Working in a real-world environment gives you insights into your career preferences, guiding you toward a more fulfilling path.
3. Build your skillset
Beyond technical know-how, an internship after graduation helps you grow essential “soft” skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. Also, feedback from your mentors and bosses is a powerful tool for your personal and career growth.
4. Be open to networking
You’ll meet people who can offer advice, and mentorship, and potentially even recommend you for future roles when you apply for an internship after graduation. Making a good impression on colleagues and supervisors can lead to valuable, lasting professional connections.
5. Transition to a full-time role
Doing well in an internship lets you showcase your abilities and show how well you fit within the company culture. A successful internship after graduation might lead to a job offer, solving the post-graduation job hunt before it even begins.
How to Get an Internship after Graduation
Now that you know some of the great benefits an internship after graduation can offer, let’s go over a few practical steps to help you find one that matches your goals and interests.
1. Figure out what you need.
Before diving into applications, it’s important to get clear on your career goals for your internship after graduation. Think about what you want to accomplish and the kind of experience you’re hoping to gain. Consider both your long-term career plans and short-term goals. Are you looking for a paid position, or are you open to an unpaid internship if it offers valuable learning opportunities?
Reflect on your skills, experience, and knowledge. Identify your strengths and think about how you can use them in an internship. Also, consider areas where you may need more experience and how an internship after graduation can help you build those skills.
You can also look at your schedule and availability before applying. Can you commit to the schedule and time requirements of an internship? Are you interested in a part-time or full-time role? And how long can you commit to working?
2. Research programs and companies.
In the US, some companies and organizations create programs specifically for recent graduates. These companies see internships as a valuable way to address labor shortages and bring fresh talent into their workforce.
For example, Disney and its affiliates offer paid internships after graduation in fields like communications, marketing, entertainment, and even biotechnology. Major tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft also have graduate internships in areas such as software development, engineering, data science, research, and design.
Also, organizations like the CIA, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the NCAA offer exclusive internship and fellowship programs for recent grads.
3. Maximize your network.
Networking can be one of your most powerful tools for landing an internship after graduation. Start by connecting with people from your college network—reach out to former professors, classmates, and alumni. These contacts may know of relevant internship opportunities or can refer you to professionals in your field.
Also, don’t overlook your personal network. Let friends, family, and anyone in your social circles know that you’re looking for an internship after graduation. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from connections you wouldn’t have expected, so it helps to spread the word and ask if anyone knows of openings that fit your interests.
You can also browse through job boards on LinkedIn and Indeed to explore internship roles available specifically for recent graduates.
How to Tailor Your Resume for Internships after Graduation
Learning to create a standout resume is a valuable skill, especially when you’re looking to secure an internship after graduation. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Tailor your resume.
Internships may be a learning experience, but you’ll still have responsibilities. Carefully review the internship posting and identify key skills or experiences they’re seeking. For example, if you’re proficient in using MS Word tools or Canva, you may include that. Make sure to include relevant keywords that align with the internship’s goals, helping your resume stand out to employers.
2. Keep it concise.
As a recent grad, hiring managers don’t expect a long work history, so don’t feel pressured to overfill your resume. Instead, focus on highlighting your most relevant experience, and choose a template that directs attention to the most important details.
3. Include a cover letter.
A cover letter adds a personal touch to your application and is especially helpful if your work experience is limited. In your cover letter, you may briefly introduce yourself, your educational background, and your career goals. You may also highlight school achievements that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
For example, if you’re applying for an internship after graduation at a non-profit focused on climate justice, you may highlight how a paper you wrote in class about sustainability in fashion was included for an international conference.
4. Prepare your references.
Be ready with a few professional references who can speak to your skills and a character reference who knows your goals. Ask them in advance, and let them know about your internship aspirations so they can provide insightful recommendations.
For instance, you served as a TA for one of your professors in undergrad. You can include that professor as a reference since they probably can attest to your dedication and capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it too late to get an internship after graduation?
As a recent graduate, you might be wondering if it’s too late to land an internship after graduation. Definitely not! While most internships happen during the academic year or over the summer, plenty of companies offer programs specifically for recent grads. In fact, some employers prefer hiring graduates for internships because you bring fresh ideas and a strong desire to learn.
An internship after graduation can be a great stepping stone to a full-time job, giving you that extra experience to stand out. It’s also a perfect chance to explore a new career path if you’re considering a different direction.
2. Are internships after graduation mostly paid or unpaid?
Both options exist, but many companies in the U.S. do offer paid internships, especially when hiring recent graduates. Larger companies and tech firms, in particular, are more likely to offer paid positions.
Keep in mind that unpaid internships are more common in certain fields, such as non-profit work or media.
3. What should I expect during an internship interview after graduation?
Internship interviews for recent graduates typically focus on your education, any relevant experience (including coursework or volunteer work), and your enthusiasm for learning.
Be prepared to discuss your career goals, why you’re interested in that particular industry, and how you can contribute to the company. Make sure to ask insightful questions to show your interest in the company and role.
Takeaways
- Wondering if you can still get an internship after graduation? Absolutely! It’s never too late to get hands-on work experience, especially if it adds value to your professional development.
- An internship after graduation can give you a great start, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings and build connections in your field.
- Some of the pros of applying for an internship after graduation include discovering different career paths, building one’s skillset, and having networking opportunities.
- Considering your options after graduation? How about applying for a Master’s degree? We got you! At AdmissionSight, we have more than a decade of experience in helping aspiring students enter into their dream schools. We offer personalized coaching services to help students reach their full potential.
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