Undergraduate Business Internships and Career Success: Are They Related?

Abstract

This article reports the results of an investigation of the relationship between early career success and past participation in an undergraduate field internship. The study extends earlier research on the effects of formal marketing education on career success. A survey of intern and nonintern business alumni of a northeastern U.S. public university indicated significant early career advantages for undergraduates with internship experience. Advantages included less time to obtain first position, increased monetary compensation, and greater overall job satisfaction. In addition to the career benefits provided to the students, the positive implications for marketing educators, university administrators, and intern employers are also discussed.