As the largest and most established academic internship program in the U.S., we work with thousands of students to navigate their internship journey, make informed decisions and maximize the opportunities available to them.
Through our work, we often see students make critical mistakes when evaluating internships—especially when it comes to compensation. While financial support is critical, an internship’s long-term value often depends on factors like skills gained, mentorship and alignment with your career goals.
To help you avoid these pitfalls, we've created an Internship Evaluation Matrix. This tool will help you compare internship options, weigh key criteria and make a choice that aligns with your goals.
Here are the top 5 mistakes students make when evaluating internships:
1. Focusing Only on the Highest Paid Opportunity
It’s easy to get caught up in chasing the highest-paying internships, but narrowing your search too much can severely limit your options. Often, highly competitive roles with top compensation may not align with your career goals, skills or long-term aspirations. Consider that roles will also be the most competitive. For example, other applicants may already have two or three relevant internships. If this is your first internship, focus on acquiring the experience you need to become a stronger candidate in the future.
What to do instead: Prioritize internships that provide valuable experience, strong mentorship and opportunities to build your network—even if the financial support is less than ideal. Sometimes, the best experience isn’t the highest paying.
2. Declining Good Opportunities While Waiting for “Something Better”
A common mistake is turning down solid internship offers while waiting for a “dream role” with higher compensation. Unfortunately, this strategy often backfires. Many students realize too late that they’ve missed out on good opportunities and end up with no internship at all.
What to do instead: Evaluate offers holistically. If an internship aligns with your career path and provides meaningful skills or connections, it’s worth serious consideration. Waiting too long can leave you without any options.
3. Overlooking the Value of Non-Monetary Compensation
Not all internships provide hourly pay or stipends, but many offer other valuable forms of support. These can include:
- Transportation or meal reimbursements
- Professional training and certifications
- Mentorship programs and networking opportunities
- The kind of experience that will allow you to develop the skills you need to become a competitive candidate post-graduation.
Students who dismiss unpaid or lower-paid internships without looking at the overall benefits miss out on experiences that could set them apart in the job market.
What to do instead: Look beyond pay and assess the total value of an internship—think skills, mentorship, networking and future job prospects.
4. Failing to Align the Internship with Career Goals
While financial compensation is important, it shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor. Choosing a high-paying internship that doesn’t align with your career aspirations can feel unfulfilling and fail to provide the skills or experience you need for your future.
What to do instead: Identify your long-term goals and choose internships that provide relevant experience in your desired industry. An unpaid or modestly paid role that aligns with your career can sometimes be a better investment than a higher-paid role that doesn’t.
5. Underestimating the Competition
Many students assume they can wait to decide or “shop around” for better compensation. However, internships—especially quality ones—are highly competitive. With thousands of students vying for limited roles, delaying your decision can result in losing out entirely.
What to do instead: Treat your internship search with urgency and focus. Remember, an internship still needs to offer you a position, and you’re competing with a large pool of talented peers. If an opportunity aligns with your goals and you can make it work, don’t delay.
Final Thought: Balance is Key
While it’s tempting to wait for the “perfect” internship with the highest pay, real-world job searches often involve trade-offs. The most valuable internships are those that:
- Align with your career goals
- Provide meaningful skills and experience
- Give you access to a network of professionals
- Open doors to future opportunities
Finding an internship that fits these criteria—even if compensation isn’t the highest out there—could be the stepping stone that sets you apart in your future career. Don’t delay your decision—seize opportunities that move you closer to your goals.
Bonus Resource: Internship Evaluation Matrix
Before submitting applications, use TWC's Internship Evaluation Matrix to:
- Assess internship opportunities based on criteria like compensation, skills, mentorship and career relevance.
- Compare multiple offers to determine which aligns best with your short-term and long-term goals.
- Avoid common mistakes like chasing the highest-paying role without considering overall value.
At The Washington Center, we understand that launching your career is about more than just securing an internship. We deliver a comprehensive, career-launching experience that prepares you to stand out in today’s competitive and rapidly evolving job market.
Our Academic Internship Program combines personalized career coaching, hands-on experience, professional development and access to a dynamic network of driven peers and professionals in Washington, D.C.—a city where ideas turn into action. You’ll return to campus with a clear plan for success after graduation and the tools to build a thriving career.
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