Ever wonder where to go if you are looking to further your knowledge on the internships and co-ops offered at Villanova University in the comfort of your own dorm room? You have reached the right blog! Villanova offers numerous opportunities to get involved on campus through internship programs that could eventually lead to your job straight out of college!
The workshop that has taken the spotlight this week is the Rise to the Top Workshop, presented by Ms. Jackie Vega, Villanova's very own associate director of experimental education and employer outreach. The event touched upon what externships, internships, and co-ops are, why they are important to take advantage of, and how to go about applying for one. Villanova has so much to offer, cease it!
Externships, internships, and co-ops are opportunities provided by the university, that can also be found from outside sources, that allow undergraduate students to get involved in their career path as soon as their freshman year. Villanova business students are driven to succeed and like to start early, which is something that employers love to see. Now, you may be wondering what the difference is between the three types of opportunities provided. Though all great ways to get a jumpstart into the workforce, each have their own twist.
Externships are short-term opportunities that allow students to gain insight into a company and what it would be like to either eventually intern full-time or even work there. These usually can last up to three weeks and are geared mainly towards freshmen and sophomores that cannot commit to a full time position. Villanova is offering a winter break externship opportunity that allows students to shadow alumni in a low pressured environment in their desired field of work. This is not only helpful in learning about the places in which one can choose to work, but is great to help decide whether or not it is truly the career path that one wants to take.
Internships last longer than externships and allow students to obtain experience within a company, learn the inner workings, and potentially earn an hourly rate. Students are provided with mentors that show them how they do their job as well as giving them hands on training as to what it would be like if they had to work on their own. Villanova provides individuals with endless internships that fit their needs both schedule wise and work field wise. Internships can be part-time or full-time and can eventually lead to one securing a job for once they are out of college.
Co-Ops are paid positions that second semester sophomores through first semester seniors can acquire to work full time for six months out of the year (January to June or July to December). This type of opportunity is extremely valuable, helping students build their network and truly understand the inner working of a business that they might potentially consider applying to in the future.
Why should one take advantage of these opportunities?
Taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the university is a no-brainer. Villanova is known for working hard to provide their students with the best resources that will follow them through into the real world. One would want to utilize the resources provided by the university because it is the easiest way to go about starting your career path.
Companies love when they can hire someone who has already interned with their company; it means less training and easier transitioning. There are countless stories of individuals obtaining an internship or co-op through their resources at Villanova and securing a job for after college before they even graduate! These resources contribute to Villanova's amazing placement rate of 96.3%.
You had me at the placement rate! What do I do from here?
The first thing you should do is sign up for Handshake! Handshake is an extremely valuable resource that business students at Villanova are lucky enough to call theirs. This website allows students easy access to jobs and internships that companies contact the university with. All you need to do is long in with your Villanova credentials and start customizing! The more you search, the more information Handshake places into a database to provide you with opportunities that better fit your wants and needs.
You can also join business societies that are geared towards the major and career path that you wish to pursue. The great thing about Villanova is that if you want something, there is a 99% chance that the university has it or can get it for you. These societies also help you to expand your networking and build life-long connections that could help you in the long-run!
So, if you are waiting for a sign to tell you to get involved, here it is...
Immerse yourself in everything that Villanova ha to offer you. It is never to young to get a jumpstart on your career. Start small with an externship, find what you love, and run with it .