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C. REISHUS, Continental Mills, Inc., Box 88176, Seattle, WA 98138

Student internships are the corner stone of many corporate recruiting programs, not only because of perceived good will, but because they provide companies with access to students prior to the recruiting cycle. They give employers the opportunity to identify promising individuals, to track their academic careers and, in some cases, to support and participate in their career choices. Internships fortify a student’s resumé with experience and additional evaluative criteria during recruiting. For students, internships are the first introduction many of them have to the practical and commercial side of the food industry. They provide an opportunity to experience and practice what they have studied in laboratories and classrooms.

Internships cover a wide range of opportunities and rewards. Students can learn what practices are important to successfully commercialize a product or technology, how to evaluate and communicate progress, and what level of technical detail is a prerequisite for success. They can also participate in the many aspects of manufacturing. Importantly internships offer students the luxury of evaluating the food industry, sectors in the food industry, or specific companies from an employee perspective. Types of internships, how to prepare for them, and their value to companies, students, and universities will be discussed.