LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

I'm sure you've heard it at least once in your academic career here at CU Denver: "Completing an internship is a great way to gain experience before you graduate." But what does that really mean, and do employers actually care if you've completed one?

Given the current job market and uncertain times, college students are looking for something to help set them apart from their peers post-graduation, and completing an internship is a great way to do that. Not only are you gaining valuable experience by completing an internship, but you also get a first-hand look at the industry and opportunities to network and connect with people who are considered experts in their field. Additionally, there's a good chance your internship opportunity can turn into a part-time or full-time position after graduation. Based on data pulled from end-of-semester evaluations completed by employers, 60% of internships completed by CU Denver students lead to a full or part-time offer or an extension of the internship.

NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employer, released its Job Outlook for 2026 earlier this year, and in addition to highlighting a cautiously recruiting job market, the data also highlights the importance of completing an internship:

What exactly does the data say?

• Internships are the top tie-breaker. When employers choose between equally qualified candidates, the two most influential attributes are "completed an internship with your organization" and "internship experience in your industry".
• Nearly all employers value U.S.-based internships on résumés. 97% of respondents selected U.S. internships as among the most valuable experiential learning entries; co-ops (76%), on-campus student work (43%), and apprenticeships (41%) also rated highly.
• Internship experience is scrutinized in screening—whether or not GPA is used. Among employers not screening by GPA, 78.9% consider internships within the industry and 73.7% consider internships with their organization; among those that do screen by GPA, the figures are 86.6% and 79.1%, respectively.
• Skills-based hiring is now mainstream—and experiential learning is one of the best ways to show skills. 69.5% of employers use skills-based hiring; 18.4% use it always and 37.7% most of the time, especially during interviews (86.9%). Employers say one of the most important ways students can demonstrate skills is to "participate in experiential learning and/or work during college" (74.1%).

What does this mean for you as a student or a recent graduate?

1. Internships tangibly boost hireability.
   • The highest impact differentiators in final hiring decisions are internship experiences—especially with the hiring organization and within the employer's industry—outranking many other common signals. For candidates in a close race, internship history is often decisive.
2. Experiential learning translates into "skills employers recognize."
   • Because most employers are incorporating skills-based hiring, and they rely on skill evidence during interviews (86.9%), students need experiences that generate demonstrable outcomes (projects, deliverables, leadership actions).
3. The right kinds of experiences matter.
   • As previously mentioned, employers most frequently value seeing experiential learning opportunities, like internships, on resumes.
4. Internships help at the screening stage—even when GPA is a factor.
   • Whether employers do or do not use GPA screens, they still place heavy emphasis on internship experience (industry and with organization), plus industry experience more broadly—strengthening the case for early and frequent engagement in applied work.
5. Experiential learning supports fast evolving skill needs (including AI).
   • With 13.3% of jobs requiring AI skills and 10.5% of entry-level job descriptions explicitly mentioning AI, projects and internships are pragmatic avenues to build and prove those capabilities.

Moving forward: what can you do?

1. Prioritize internships early and often.
   • As early as your freshman and sophomore years, consider pursuing internships or any experiential learning opportunities, such as research and study abroad, as these carry the highest perceived value and can become decisive differentiators at the offer stage. Student can receive academic credit for their internships, whether paid or unpaid. For those completing unpaid internship opportunities, the Unpaid Internship Support Scholarship exists as a possible source of funding. Please contact the Experiential Learning Center (303-315-4000 or [email protected]) for additional information.
2. Treat every experience as a skills generator.
   • Convert on-campus jobs, research, study abroad, internships, and service learning into bullet points on your resume that name the competencies used and outcomes delivered; most employers are reading résumés through a skills lens. Experiential learning, like those listed above, provides concrete artifacts and stories to communicate those skills.
3. Target industry alignment.
   • Because employers heavily weigh industry-specific internships and experience, consider checking out roles, projects, and micro engagements that sit inside your intended sector—even if part-time or short-term.
4. Prepare for skills-based interviewing.
   • Build prep sessions that emphasize skill stories, portfolios, and work samples—reflecting that interviewing is the #1 stage where skills-based hiring is applied. Consider scheduling an Interview Prep appointment with the Career Center via Handshake!
5. Weave in AI-adjacent projects where relevant.
   • With a measurable share of roles listing AI skills, consider capstones, practicums, or internships that touch data, automation, or AI enabled tools to meet evolving expectations.

Overwhelmingly, completing an internship during your time here at CU Denver is going to help you post-graduation. If able, consider completing as many internships as your schedule will allow. Now sure where to start? Contact the Experiential Learning Center (303-315-4000 or [email protected]) to enroll in the Internship Workshop and be connected with your Internship Advisor.