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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Internships aren't just for students

NBC/Today Show

NBC/Today Show

Recently, I was on the TODAY Show talking with David Gregory and Ann Hodgman, a 52-year-old "executive intern" at the website wowOwow.com.  I've been recommending adult internships for ages to anyone who is thinking of changing careers, looking for on-the-job experience, or hoping to network their way into a new position. But these internships have some fundamental differences from the classic internship being done by a college student or recent grad. Here's why:

1. Often it's the individual, not the employer, who proposes an adult internship, and there probably isn't an intermediary like a university making the match. So if you're interested in crafting an internship, it's up to you to identify the right organization and decide how to approach the subject. When you do, tout the experience you can bring to the organization, your hunger to learn, and the fact that the organization has little to lose by taking a chance on you.

2. These are customized arrangements so every deal will be different. Will it be paid or unpaid? Will the employer cover any expenses, like training or transportation? Will there be opportunities for any benefits? It all depends on what you negotiate.

3. To succeed as an adult intern, you can't be too proud. While you may have years of experience, the point of an internship is to figure out what you need to learn. And you'll have to get comfortable that you might be learning from someone many years your junior. If you play it right, your younger colleagues should find that there is plenty they can learn from you as well.

Like all internships, the best way to go from unpaid to paid -- or to a part- or full-time position -- is to prove to that you're indispensable.

For more background on planning an adult internship, have a look at the book, "Test-Drive Your Dream Job," by Brian Kurth.

If you've ever had an adult internship, am I missing something?  Please share your stories and any tips in the comments.
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Comments 1-7 of 7
  • lk's Avatar
    Posted by lk Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:40pm PDT

    Loved the article. I am an adult student, a senior in college, in my mid-twenties. The university I attend does not have an internship program and did not act as an intermediary. I had to make the "match" and make it happen. I negotiated an unpaid position, and am looking forward to the experience. I will indeed be "test driving" a possible new career.

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  • bamagurl's Avatar
    Posted by bamagurl Thu Aug 6, 2009 1:21pm PDT

    I'm currently a stay at home mom who is debating going back to work. I'm not sure what I want to do, but I know I want something different than the work I have done in the past. This is a great way to "test the waters" of a possible new career. Even just a few days a month (unpaid) would be worth it to learn something new and to network.

    Report Abuse
  • Angela's Avatar
    Posted by Angela Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:37am PST

    I love this article. I can't believe I did not see it before now. I lost my job back in September and took on a non-paid internship to reinvent myself. I am 25 and a senior in college. I have an extensive employment background and that is why it is taking me so long to graduate.

    Though I knew there was no chance I could get hired in with the company I was interning for, there was room in it's sister company. I am proud to say that the internship helped me learn Marketing skills I would have never learned if not for the opportunity and it helped fill the gap on my resume. I worked very hard at my internship even though it was not paid. In the end it did pay off, as I got hired in to the sister company.

    You are never too old for an internship, it is a great way to get your feet wet in a industry that you have very little knowledge about.

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-7 of 7

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