The right externship can be a valuable gateway for job-seeking graduates. Ashlee Crowe, a 2012 Heald College graduate from the Roseville campus, used her experience working at Sutter Medical Foundation to take her first step into the world of professional healthcare. By shadowing Sutter employees, she was able to get hands-on experience that culminated in a full-time job.
"I didn't want to feel like a third wheel just standing around. I wanted to be involved. That was extremely important to me," Ashlee said. "Now I'm working in pediatrics. You're dealing one-on-one with patients."
According to the Sacramento Bee, about 60 percent of 2012 college graduates who worked in paid internships received at least one job offer. "Having an internship is critical," said Christina Rivera, director of career services at Heald College in Roseville. "It's like a working interview. This is a job," she said.
Mike Phillips, training and development manager at Sutter Medical Foundation, added, "Internships are a mechanism, not only to provide the vocational training we need for our care centers, but it provides us an opportunity to vet who will be applying for positions."