Career Center

Internships For Credit, For Pay or For Experience?

For Credit

Receiving academic credit for an internship is dependent upon the decision of your academic department. Some degree programs require internships as part of the degree requirements. Consult with your academic advisor to determine if an internship is required for your degree program. Academic departments have various requirements so, it is very important that you contact them BEFORE assuming that you can earn credit for an internship. You can discuss internship opportunities with both your academic advisor and a career counselor.

**Important note: The Career Center is not an academic department and is not authorized to award academic credit. As a Hofstra student it is your responsibility to arrange academic credit through your academic advisor.

For Pay

Many paid internships are found in the corporate sector. Consulting, investment banking, commercial banking, accounting, information technology, sales and marketing offer some of the highest paying internships. Others may or may not pay as much depending on the high demand for the internship. Still, almost all industries offer some paid internships to attract talented students at an early stage in their education.

For students who may want and/or need a paid internship, there are some alternatives.

Organizations are increasingly realizing that although some students are motivated by paychecks, many just want income to cover basic necessities. In response, many traditionally unpaid internships may now come with a one-time stipend to help students defray their costs of living.

For Experience

If you decide against or cannot get a paid internship there are also still opportunities to gain valuable experience. For example, if you're interested in politics, an unpaid internship campaigning for your local congressman may help you establish valuable connections for your future. Working in a hospital lab offers the opportunity to practice skills, such as blood drawing or microscopy, that will come in handy for a doctor-to-be. A future lawyer will gain understanding of a firm's document and litigation services by working as a legal assistant.

Remember, even if you are not paid, internships are the fastest way to add luster and experience to your resume. By interning, you not only gain professional and valuable experience, but you also gather insight into a particular industry and organizational culture, and establish connections that might lead to a job.

However, before diving into the first internship you are offered, make sure you investigate all your options and speak to a Career Counselor in The Career Center. Internships vary widely in the amount of pay or academic credit offered, experience gained, type of supervision and mentoring you receive, the length of time you are expected to work, and the amount of learning you will do.