Young people looking to improve their career prospects may benefit from taking an internship that will help develop their skills while providing on-the-job experience. According to the Business Journal, a wide variety of companies from law firms to technology companies to specialist manufacturers take on interns each summer, giving future job hunters a chance to test the skills picked up in their academic studies. In addition, the site said, many internships are paid, providing a useful source of income alongside a valuable learning experience. Furthermore, Gloria Dunlap of Action Greensboro suggested that between 50% and 60% of internships result in a full-time job. Figures from Harvard Business School show that 78% of service companies and 22% of manufacturers in the US offered summer internships in 2006, in sectors including consulting, retail, media, pharmaceuticals and real estate. Some 78% of these internships were based in the US and the average salary paid stood at $7,500 for all sectors, although this varied by location and job type. For the service sector, average pay was $8,000, although this was again subject to regional and industry variations.  |