What Are the Best Types of Internships for Human Resources Majors?

Internships for Human Resources majors are an excellent method for college students enrolled in an HR degree program to gain practice experience that will bridge the gap between the theories learned in the classroom and the real-world skills needed for professional career success. While many universities have initiated internship programs as a formal component of the required curriculum to earn a degree, more and more students are taking an active role in searching for additional internship experiences for valuable career-related experience. For those who are Human Resources majors, it is essential to gain internship and HR work experience within the thriving industry to impress prospective employers in the job market after graduation. Read on to learn more about the best types of internships and leading programs available for students interested in Human Resources to jumpstart their career towards early success.

What to Look for in a Internships for Human Resources

Although it is becoming increasingly popular for organizations to hire interns to take care of the “busy work” with getting little to no pay for their hard efforts, it is important for Human Resources majors to engage in an internship that provides extensive teamwork experience. Since managing talent is the most prominent responsibility of HR professionals across every firm, it is essential for interns to work hand-in-hand with the business to gain experience in strategy development, employee training, project management, and planning. Students should search for internships for human resources that promise complete immersion into the Human Resources division to learn valuable practical skills in compensation, labor relations, recruiting, talent workforce development, conflict management, benefits, and other human resources service delivery functions.

Leading Internship Programs for Aspiring HR Professionals

As the Human Resources industry continues to thrive, there are numerous national internship programs that are giving students the best business opportunities to work with top-notch HR teams to build the skills needed to achieve all their career goals. For instance, JP Morgan hosts a Human Resources Summer Internship Development Program that offers students facilitated and self-paced training opportunities coupled with real-world business experience. The New York Headquarters Human Resources team of Macy’s also offers several eight-week internships to work alongside executives in a corporate retail setting for hands-on learning in talent acquisition, recruiting, workforce development, and labor relations.

Within the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of the U.S. Department of Treasury, students can earn an internship that will help Human Resources majors gain prestigious experience recruiting, hiring, paying, and training more than 3,000 dedicated federal professionals who supervise national banks and federal savings organizations. Furthermore, Microsoft Corporation provides two tailored one-year rotations in a HR Trax program to gain extensive contact with peers and senior leaders as well as participate in monthly best practice sharing, an annual sponsored leadership conference, and peer mentoring.

Overall, as competition for jobs within the Human Resources field continue to draw competition from recent college graduates, it is becoming increasingly essential for students to gain career-related experience through internships while earning a Masters in Human Resources Degree. In addition to gaining valuable experience, internships will help aspiring HR professionals develop employability, foster transferable skills, explore professional interests, and generate future employment opportunities with business connections. While the mentioned internship programs are among the best in the profession, it is recommended that students check with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to find more extensive listings of available internships for human resources majors to get on the right track to a successful career.