Students

• Gain exposure to real-world problems and issues that perhaps are not found in textbooks.
• Cultivate adaptability and creativity in a dynamic world.
• Increased marketability to employers. On average, only 30% of graduating seniors have job offers before graduation; however, after completing an internship, that figure rises to 58%.
• Evaluate specific companies or specific careers prior to committing with full-time employment—a "try before you buy" type experience.
• Ease transition from being a student to entering the workforce.
• Increase opportunities within a company for faster advancement and growth.
• Increase self-confidence in the workplace while developing an expanded network of associates and professionals.
• Facilitate a higher starting salary than non-interns. In a recent study, interns received, on average, $2,240 more than non-interns for starting salary.
• Have résumé-building experiences while applying academic concepts and principles.
• Spread the gospel in many areas through example and lifestyles wherever you go.
• Have opportunities to fund the college education.
• Have personal growth experiences and exposure to different job opportunities.
• Have hands-on opportunities to work with equipment and technology that may not be available on campus.
• According to interns from BYU, students gain the following benefits through academic internships: learning, experience, skill development, perspective, supervision, connections-professional and careers, academic credit, earnings, representing BYU, and service to others.

Department/University

• Validates the university's curriculum in a working environment.
• Improves post-graduation statistics for the university.
• May accelerate corporate fund-raising efforts.
• Allows the university to admit more students because many students spend the semester off campus.
• Provides learning experiences that are more valuable than case studies and lecturers.
• Advances curriculum to keep pace and lead practical arena.
• Connects faculty to current trends within their professional field.
• Develops more competitive and employable graduates.
• Increases program credibility and student excellence as well as stronger ties with alumni in the professional fields.

Experience Providers

• Creates the opportunity to recruit future employees, as interns have had the chance to prove themselves as employees. (In one year, Hewlett Packard recruited 70% of its new hires from its pool of interns.)
• Gives the opportunity to evaluate prospective employees, virtually risk free.
• Saves money since an intern receives less pay and fewer benefits than a full-time employee.
• Provides fresh, enthusiastic and productive employees.
• Functions as flexible, cost-effective work force without long-term commitments.
• Frees up professional staff to pursue more creative projects.
• Offers a year-round source of highly motivated preprofessionals.
• Garners quality candidates for temporary or seasonal positions and short-term projects.
• Brings new and innovative ideas to an employer.
• Gives a cost-effective way to recruit and screen potential employees without obligation to hire.
• Creates a pipeline of talent for a future work force.
• Allows greater productivity during business cycles.
• Presents an excellent way to find new, energetic, and skilled employees who bring latest industry knowledge fresh from lectures and other campus resources.
• Bridges the gap between academics and professional settings through input in the education process of future professionals.
• Converts student interns to full-time employees seemlessly who can be immediately productive.
• Strengthens the bond with the university and projects a favorable image in the community.
• Allows the employer the opportunity to have an impact on molding the lives of students.