INTERNSHIP Internships are programs that allow students to gain practical (hands-on) work experience and possibly academic credit at the same time. These are supervised programs of work and study which involve students working in hospitality, restaurant, travel-tourism, hotel settings applying skills and knowledge obtained in the course of their studies. The typical intern works ten to 20-25 hours per week and perhaps more during summer. An internship is considered a para-professional or pre-professional experience which gives the student an opportunity to apply knowledge from the classroom in an employment setting consistent with the students choice of hospitality career field. Because internships most often include a rigorous academic component and assume that the student already has significant knowledge and experience, internships are usually undertaken by juniors, seniors and graduate students. Internships may pay a wage or stipend or may be unpaid. Students gain valuable career experience and the opportunity to see and be seen by possible future employers. The Internship Program is a field-based learning experience where a student is in a job setting, learning skills that integrate career goals with their coursework and major. The Internship Program is designed for students as a means to incorporate qualified and supervised work into their educational program and gain academic credit while making valuable career corrections. Although internships are generally unpaid, exceptions can be made in circumstances where the student's status as a student, rather than an employee, can be protected. It would be great if all internship positions are fully compensated, however, some are and some are not. In many cases students provide at least some or all of their own support and the more popular positions which compensates Interns are generally filled very fast. However some non-compensated internships positions are highly sought after, more so if the company or individual sponsoring the position has a good reputation and/or is held with high industry or popular regard. The rate of pay runs the gamut. Some internships pay minimum wage, some around $7 per hour or higher. Some internships may pay $10 per hour or more depending on the level of work to be done and if the intern possesses skills and abilities that the sponsor highly values . It also depends sometimes on the State/City where you go for your Internship; some pay a higher wages due to cost of living being higher in that area. There are many variables that affect the pay rate for compensated interns. We try to locate companies related only to the hospitality-restaurant-hotel-tourism industry. Some are nationally or internationally known, others are small private business. Whichever one you chose it will be a hands-on experience and knowledge gained working in an actual operational setting will be your overall benefit. Also, networking is one important asset to being an intern. more so if your employers were impressed by your work and productivity.