By: Faith Yoho

A strong GPA used to be highly coveted by job-seeking undergraduates, but are internships now becoming more important?

When it comes to finding a job post college, students used to be worried about having the highest GPA out of a slew of candidates. However, most entry level positions now may require years of experience, which can increase the value of internships in the workforce. 

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) 2022 Job Outlook Report, “When choosing between two otherwise equally qualified candidates, employers deem having an internship with its organization or within its industry to be the most influential factors.”

West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Director of Career Services and Experiential Learning, Dr. Justin Bowers says, “This is a big conversation. There aren’t any blanket answers as every employer will be different. I do hear more and more these days that experiential learning, if it is valuable (meaning high-impact experiences with substance and meaningful work) and rooted in growing not just technical skills but also relational skills (for example, leadership, conflict management, teamwork, communication) is very powerful in helping candidates standout.”

When it comes to wondering if employers are expecting more experience out of their candidates, even for entry level positions, Dr. Bowers says, “Again, it depends on the industry. My advice to students, though, is always to consider the culture of an organization. If you’re taking an entry level position and the company has a healthy culture that trains new employees, supports them as they learn, and provides opportunities for growth, that’s a great place to start. If not, it will be a struggle.”

While the workforce and its standards will continue to change over time, students can visit WVWC’s office of Career Services and Experiential Learning for assistance in finding internships and post-grad positions. 

“Freshman year is a great time to set up a meeting with a faculty advisor and/or career services (my office) to talk about career paths. If you’re making your way through the challenges of the college journey, it’s critical that you keep a career pursuit in mind. That doesn’t mean it has to be crystal clear, but it’s important to know what your learning can lead you toward,” says Dr. Bowers. 

To the students of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Dr. Bowers says, “I wish students knew very clearly that it will take time, and your experiences matter greatly. Your professors are doing a phenomenal job of preparing you, but you will stand out as you develop holistically – with interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, leadership and team capacity, and more. Those things come from the experiences you build over your years here at Wesleyan.”

The Office of Career Services and Experiential Learning offers coaching, job/internship search help, resume support, networking lessons, and more.

Need to find the office or want to contact Dr. Bowers?

Office Location: 

Second floor of the Campus Center – same area as the Student Development offices.

Dr. Justin Bowers: bowers.j@wvwc.edu
304.473.8607

Abby Dilly at Northwestern Mutual Internship 

Credit: Abby Dilly