Products & Services

Internships have always been viewed as a great way for students to put concepts learned in class into practice and develop practical skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. However, what was once viewed as a nice-to-have is now becoming an integral step towards achieving post-graduate success. More and more employers say that having real-world experience on your resume is crucial to getting a job in today’s ever competitive job market. Consider these staggering statistics:

• According to a recent study for Michigan State University, ninety percent of new hires will have had work-related experiences prior to entering the workforce and some companies said that they would not even consider a candidate who lacked internship experience.

• In the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2010 survey, more than 75% of employers said they prefer candidates with relevant work experience while 16% said they prefer any type of work experience, relevant or not.

That’s why Blackboard has joined forces with Intern­ships.com, the largest marketplace for internships, part-time jobs and entry-level positions serving college students, to deliver an integrated, career-oriented experience within the Blackboard Learn™ platform. The free Internships.com Building Block allows students to search Internships.com’s database of over 55,000 postings and apply for internships and jobs across the U.S. through a new My Career tab or directly from the My Institution homepage.  They can also access Internships.com’s vast career-related resources to create resumes, prepare for interviews, and utilize assessment tools to determine which jobs are right for them. There is even a Facebook integration that allows students to repurpose their social networks as professional networks. With the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 years rate hovering around 18%, students must take advantage of every opportunity to improve their chances of getting hired. The Internships.com and Blackboard integration allows institutions to expand and diversify on-campus job search and career development options, as well as improve employment outcomes, for their students.  It’s a great resource and one more way for institutions to help students prepare for success beyond the classroom.