Internships truly give you some of the best experiences while you are still in school and still figuring out what you want to do. Although most people dream of having a paid internship, you should never pass up any opportunity, even if it is unpaid. If you’re debating whether to take the unpaid internship or not, think of all the benefits that could still come!

Networking

Networking is huge when it comes to internships. You have an entire company to connect with and you often have someone guiding you along the way. Not only do you have the company you’re interning for, but you also have anyone that the company may have connections with. Even if you don’t end up getting a job with the same company, it can still be great to add to your resume for others to see.

Gain Experience

Even if you are not making money, you are gaining so many other things. You are gaining important knowledge about the job, learning new skills, participating in events that you wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise, and you are learning the language of the business. As college students, we usually do not have an exact idea of what we want to do with our lives. Internships are helpful, as they help to narrow down all the options. Even if you think you know what you want to do, an internship is a great way to get your feet wet in the industry.

They can Lead to Other Opportunities

Getting paid for a job you’re doing is always nice. However, an unpaid internship can sometimes be your ticket into a company. Many companies offer jobs to interns after their internship is complete. If they don’t offer you a job, an internship on your resume can still really help you to get hired by your dream company.

No internship, big or small, should be overlooked. If you are given an opportunity, take it! It may lead you to land your dream job one day.