After buying expensive course books and paying tuition, rent and meals, college kids are often strapped for cash. Nevertheless, many UW-Madison students must decide to add time and lose money by accepting internships-many of which are unpaid-rather than a paying job.
Karen Stauffacher, assistant dean and director of the School of Business Career Center, said internships are vital for students to learn real-world business interactions and to help them attain jobs.
\Students definitely need to have internships of some kind,"" she said. ""Either part-time during the school year or a summer position that's either paid or unpaid. If students don't have internship experience, the next step is an active role in an organization to learn leadership, communication skills and team-building skills.""
Stauffacher also said internships are becoming more important for students to have as time passes. Many companies conduct ""behavioral interviews"" where applicants are asked to describe past work experiences and explain how they dealt with problems in real-life situations.
""Twenty years ago it was rare for students to have prior experience, and now it's rare for students to graduate without relevant work experience,"" she said. ""We ask [recruiters] to talk about different kinds of skills ... and the things they rate as very, very important. Those are consistently motivation, self-confidence and always critical are leadership skills, communications skills and work experience.""
Although studying and high grades remain important factors, taking leadership roles in organizations, doing volunteer work and making the initiative to learn through internships are becoming more important to employers, according to Stauffacher.
""It's harder to place a 4.0 [GPA] student who's done nothing than a 2.2 who's been involved and volunteered and has experience,"" Stauffacher said. ""It's all about what you did and learned and how you made a difference. And how you can relate what you did to that particular job.""
Stauffacher stressed that graduating from UW-Madison gives students a boost in the business world.
""Employers care about the same things,"" she said. ""UW-Madison is so strong and they believe the academic preparation is so solid. Basically, [not having experience] can be a deal-breaker.""
Whether paid or unpaid, a growing number of students gain vital experience for their future careers through internships and find out if their choice of major is really what they want to continue with in life. These are benefits that can compensate for internships that do not pay.
Lara Dreier, campus organizer for Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said the organization works with many interns, employing 27 last semester and looking for up to 35 this semester.
""The main requirement [here] is passion about one of the issues and a willingness to learn,"" Dreier said. ""Doing internships definitely helps you get a foot in the door with the group.""
Dan Kohler, Midwest organization director for WisPIRG and other state PIRGs, said internships and leadership experience are key points he looks at when hiring.
""I definitely look at internships,"" he said. ""I think when I'm considering applicants with state PIRGs I'm interested in whether people have done internships and what they've done there. I like when they've taken on leadership roles or other opportunities.""
UW-Madison junior Lynn Pophal interned-unpaid-with WKOW news last semester, as well working a paid job, playing a leadership role in the UW Homecoming committee and hosting a radio show for WSUM.
She said while her experiences were invaluable for making future career choices, she often wondered if her efforts were worth the time.
""It was incredible to juggle,"" she said. ""It was really difficult and stressful. Especially in the beginning, when I felt like I wasn't doing much [with WKOW], I did question whether it was worth it.
""I don't think it's feasible for everyone to have a full-time job and an internship, but to get experience as a student, sometimes you have to take the losses and take the unpaid internship.""
