5 Reasons Why MBA Summer Internships Are Important
Summer internships are an essential component of any MBA programme and play a huge role in bringing you close to your dream job.
Are you a MBA student or are you planning to pursue MBA in the future? Then this article is for you. When we talk about MBA, internship is one of the hot topics which come with it without fail. Summer internships usually last for about two or three months.
One of the on-going debates is whether an MBA student should opt for a summer internship or not. We at Shiksha feel that summer internships are an essential part of MBA programme. In fact, many top business schools have made summer internships compulsory.
If you are still confused whether you should opt for a summer internship or not, here are the five reasons why MBA summer internships are important.
1. Gaining Real-Life Experience and Exposure
Summer internships bring with itself a plethora of opportunities. The first and biggest benefit of starting an MBA summer internship is that it will help the students gain real-life experience. With summer internships you will get a chance to apply your classroom knowledge on the field. Some believe that the classroom knowledge is enough for the students before they step into the corporate world. However, by opting for an internship students can put their classroom knowledge to work and also test their aptitude and practical skills. As interns, students can learn how to handle real-life corporate situations and will be able to tackle the challenges easily that might come in their career in the future. Hence, the students can bridge the gap between the theoretical knowledge and practical skill and at the same time they can get a chance to explore the real world.
2. Engage with Professionals and Create a Network
Networking is important for MBA students. MBA interns are placed in a professional corporate environment during their internships. They can get a chance to engage with the industry professionals and learn a lot from their practical experience which they might not learn in the classroom. During their internships, students should not hesitate to make contacts in the office. Students can make a lot of potential networking contacts throughout their internship who can help them further their careers. Here, one can make the best use of social media. Students should keep in touch with them through LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. A good recommendation goes a long way. You can ask your managers and mentors to write recommendations for you which might make securing a job easier.
Being in contact with experienced professionals will also help the students to develop their knowledge, competencies and experiences which are directly related to your career goals.
3. Enhances Your Resume
Many top companies and B-schools prefer candidates with some work experience. When companies plan on recruiting, they plan to hire someone not for three months but for three years. Gaining the corporate experience during your summer vacation will enhance your resume and also give the companies another reason to hire you. This will increase your chances of securing your dream job. Many companies recruit talent which is the perfect fit for their work culture. Hence some internships can also turn into pre-placement offers or PPOs. Hence, it is a win-win situation for you and the company, as, you will already have a job in your hand at the end of your post-graduation and the company would have already had an experience of your talent and potential.
4. Earn during your Vacations
A summer internship is the best way to earn during your three month long vacation. Some summer internships are paid and some are unpaid. Paid internships are a brilliant way to earn money during your summer vacations however, the unpaid internships are no less. You get to learn a lot during these internships and hence there is lot to increase your practical knowledge. Summer internships can help you get hands-on real-life experience and at the same time make your summers enjoyable.
5. Builds Confidence
Internships help you build confidence. When you opt for an internship you are exposed to a new environment. Summer internships help you build your confidence so that when you go out for a job interview you do not feel nervous or unconfident as you have the skills, experience, the desire and the confidence to make it through. The right attitude works really well in a corporate world and internships give you that. When you have already worked in a corporate setting then you are already acquainted with the corporate culture and thus the sincerity towards your work increases which will help you for a lifetime.
To conclude, internships are the best way to bring you a step closer to your dream job. As put by Abigail Kies, Astt. Dean Yale School of Management, “Internship choices are becoming more about long-term goals rather than exploration, learning, and skill-building”.
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