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OPINION
The most effective internships don’t just prepare students for the workforce, they inspire them to envision their role in their chosen career. What makes an internship impactful
F or many college students, a top priority before graduating is to gain valuable hands- on experience through an internship in their desired career field. These programs give students a behind-the-scenes look at what their future could be like. It’s an opportunity to fall even more in love with their chosen career or to reevaluate their path. Such decisions and feelings are often influenced by the internship experience, which can ultimately determine a student’s future direction. So, what aspects of an internship enhance the intern experience and leave a lasting, meaningful impact on students?
Isabel Rickaby
This summer, I was fortunate to secure an internship at SCS Engineers, an environmental engineering firm, where I worked on solid waste design and gained firsthand experience in environmental engineering. Here are several key elements that enriched my internship experience: ■ Having an engineer “buddy.” This person’s role was to ease my transition into working at an engineering firm. The buddy system provided a relaxed, one-on-one relationship with an experienced engineer outside of my supervisor. This arrangement allowed me to network, ask questions about daily life as an engineer, and
have a friendly face on my first day. My buddy was also transparent about their job – sharing details such as salary, annual raises, and tips for negotiating a contract – topics rarely covered in college or found online. Building this relationship helped me identify the type of work environment I want to be part of in the future. ■ The final presentation. Knowing I would need to share my work with others motivated me to track my progress carefully, ask my coworkers more thoughtful questions, and consider how each task fit into the broader goals of the project.
See ISABEL RICKABY, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER NOVEMBER 3, 2025, ISSUE 1608
ELEVATE THE INDUSTRY®
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