How Internships Benefit Young People

For more than two decades, Leslie “Les” Goldstein has led the boutique wealth management advisory firm Personal Financial Strategies, Inc., an Illinois-based affiliate of Arete Wealth Management LLC. Alongside his experience as an Arete financial advisor, Les Goldstein sits on the board of the Always Giving Back Foundation, a workforce development nonprofit. As part of its mission to improve employment and economic opportunities for young people, the foundation connects students to internships.

Internships are an essential pipeline for businesses looking to recruit new college graduates or introduce more young people into their industry. Since many college students have limited or no work experience, internships provide them with the opportunity to implement their learning while gaining practical skills on the job.

Field experience also gives students a realistic glimpse of the daily responsibilities of positions in their desired career path. This information can help them solidify their post-collegiate plans. Interns can also develop mentoring relationships with established industry professionals who can offer referrals that can ease their transition into the workforce upon graduation.