Interning as an alternative to jobs during college is becoming more popular for students and to the company providing the intern. Most students need a job during college; whether it?s to pay for college, pay for bills or for extra money. But interning is just as important to a student who will be entering the job market when they graduate.

Tegan Passalocqua, a senior majoring in health science, has had three jobs and an internship during his college career. His internship was at Cordova High School; he helped the health teacher teach a class during one semester.

“I would say a lot of people don?t go into the line of work they major in. Interning is a good way to see if they like the field that they plan on going into,” Passalacqua said.

Every major department at Sac State has an intern program. You earn credits for an internship the same as you do for a class. The minimum amount of hours necessary can be as low as 10 hours a week. An intern goes to the company and works like an employee to gain experience usually in the field of the student?s major.

Joan Parris, an intern coordinator for the Sacramento Police Department, said that it?s a good way to look into possible career opportunities that spark your interest.

“Interning for the Sacramento Police Department allows you to clear a partial background, and it allows for the intern to get good recommendations from the department,” Parris said. “It?s also a great way to advance yourself to go the extra mile.”

Most are not paid internships but there are exceptions. If it is necessary to have a job, most internships are flexible with your time and school schedule.

Katy Nicholls, a junior in the Recreation and Leisure department is considering taking an internship at Vail Ski Resort next semester. Nicholls said that it?s experience you might not even get right out of college, and it allows you to get that experience under your belt.

“Usually at the end of the internship, you are offered a job with the company,” Nicholls said.

Stacey Cook, an alumni from the Communication Studies Department at Sac State, found a paid internship her sophomore year. She ended her internship and finished school. When she graduated, the company she had an internship with before hired her on as a full-time employee with full benefits.

“They were very flexible with me during the semester,” Cook said. ” I recommend getting an internship to anyone who wants to get a head start on finding a good job when they graduate.”