Let’s face it — much of your college career will likely involve gaining hands-on industry experience prior to graduation. This can take the form of internships, co-ops, externships, and much more. These experiences provide valuable insight into what working in a specific industry is like and what roles and responsibilities a job in this sector may have.
In many cases, students seek out internship experiences that directly align with their major or intended career interests. For example, if you are studying Marketing, you may only think to look for internship opportunities at reputable marketing firms to gain this experience. While taking this direct path may be helpful for the post-graduation job search, there are also indirect opportunities that can be just as profitable in the long-run — non-profit opportunities!
So what does it mean for a position to be profitable? While compensation is one way to measure how profitable an experience is, it’s also important to consider other factors like transferable skills, career competencies, and the ability to build close professional networks. In many cases, non-profit internships allow students to play a greater role within the organization and make real changes, which helps to develop several professional skills and toolsets. And the best part? You can be interested in any industry and still gain crucial job experience in the non-profit setting!
Interested in learning more or want help finding these opportunities?
Join the Center for Career Development as they host the virtual “Interning in a Non-Profit can be Profitable” event on Monday, October 25th from 5:30 – 6:30 PM. At this event you will hear from several individuals who have had non-profit internships and how these experiences have benefitted them in their current and future roles. Register via Handshake!
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
