Is It No Longer Possible to Find Good Internships?

The internship is considered to be an important stepping stone in a young researcher or student’s journey. For many, it represents the first time that he or she gets an inside look into the career path that they are pursuing. Internships help teach students valuable soft and technical skills, such as working in a collaborative way with colleagues, sprucing up on their organizational skills, and learning how to adapt to changing circumstances in the workplace. Successful completion of an internship often allows graduates to return as a full-time employee after graduation. In other words, landing an internship is a huge predictor in landing a job after graduation.¹

But what if the number of available internships starts drying up?

According to CNN, a tightening job market, fueled in part because of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution currently under way, is resulting in a sharp decrease in the number of internships available to college students.¹ Approximately four-fifths of students who land an internship get hired soon after graduation, whereas only 14% of college graduates who didn’t complete an internship get hired.¹

This trend is a real problem, as fewer internships mean less opportunities for students to jumpstart their careers. Coupled with the fact that more students are going to college and seeking out internships, the competition for the few internships out there is sky-high. The result is that many hardworking and qualified students are facing the prospect of being unemployed or underemployed after graduation, saddled with significant debt, and facing a job search that is becoming more soul-destroying than ever before.

So how can students combat this issue?

In an upcoming video series on “Pathways in Spectroscopy,” Mary Kate Donais, a Professor at St. Anselm College, will answer some of the most pressing questions surrounding internships. One of our previous guests on “Pathways in Spectroscopy” discussed career transitions and preparing for a job in spectroscopy.² Our interview with Donais takes a step backward and explored how students can land an internship in a tough environment.

Our conversation with Donais will touch upon several topic areas, including:

• How her previous jobs influenced how she approached her job educating students on spectroscopy
• The strategy behind connecting students to the most valuable internships and how they can best leverage internships into full-time offerings
• The areas of spectroscopy that are underrepresented in traditional coursework
• The importance of having access to modern instrumentation during a student's education
• How cultural heritage and archaeology programs are preparing students to work across these two disciplines.

We are looking forward to sharing with you these clips soon on “Pathways in Spectroscopy.”

References

1. Mena, B. The job market is so tough, young people are struggling just to land internships. CNN.com. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/06/business/job-market-internships-squeeze (accessed 2026-06-02).
2. Agarwal, A.; Wetzel, W. How Engineering Can Prepare You for a Career in Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/how-engineering-can-prepare-you-for-a-career-in-spectroscopy (accessed 2026-06-02).