Vault Guide to Top Internships 2010 Edition
What is an internship?
An internship is a sort of trial run at a company—and one of the best ways to test out a potential career field or employer. Internships vary in length; they can last two weeks or a full year, though most of them are for a three-month period. Many internships take place over the summer, while others may occur over the fall or spring semester or a duration of your choosing. Similarly, the majority of internships are full time, though some are part time.
Within these pages are the internships that represent top career opportunities that give students a chance to shine and flex their professional muscles. Our editors recognize that there are many different kinds of internship programs, and each has its own unique benefits. Here's how we chose which programs to include in the 2010 edition of the Vault Guide to Top Internships, and later, which programs we selected for the 2010 Top 10 Internships.
Pay and perks
Because so many internships are unpaid, compensation definitely makes a difference. That doesn’t just mean cash, though: positions that offer interns housing, transportation and access to exclusive events are a huge plus as well.
On the job
The more engaging hands-on work and mentorship opportunities a program offers, the better. So when picking the Top 10 candidates, we choose positions that will enable interns to take their experience out into the postgraduate world by giving them a taste of full-time experience as well as networking opportunities.
Looking forward
Internships are meant to prepare students and recent grads for the future, whether by allowing them to try out different industries or narrow their focus to one. Job placement—the offer rate to interns for full-time jobs—was a factor. Also important: what we call “resume radiance,” a line on the resume that will impress future employers. A big name on your resume can propel you forward in any industry, from investment banking to curating, and the internships in our guide run the gamut.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Carolyn C. Wise:
Carolyn C. Wise
Carolyn is the senior education editor at Vault. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., she studied English literature at Princeton University. Carolyn is a volunteer firefighter in Saltaire, N.Y.
Rebecca Zissou
Rebecca Zissou is member of the editorial department at Vault. Born and raised in Ossining, N.Y., she graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in English in 2009.
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