Why We Don’t Place Internship Students

One of the most common questions I’m asked about the Naperville Career Internship Program is simple and fair. Why don’t you place your students into internships? Many schools do. Students share an area of interest, the program assigns them to a company, and the experience begins. On the surface, that approach feels efficient and supportive.

We intentionally don’t operate that way. It’s not because we want to make things harder. It’s because the professional world our students are entering doesn’t work like that.

In the real world, no one is placed into a role simply because they’re interested. Opportunities are earned through preparation, research, communication, interviews, and demonstrated skills. Because of that, our internship program mirrors reality as closely as possible. Students are expected to research companies and organizations, understand the work they actually do, prepare resumes and portfolios, and interview with real professionals. Those employers then decide whether a student is the right fit based on readiness, skills, and professionalism.

When a student isn’t selected, we don’t view it as failure. In fact, that’s often where the most meaningful learning begins. As the Career Internship Coordinator and teacher, I step into the role of a career coach. We walk back through the interview together. We talk honestly about the questions they asked, how they communicated, what their resume or portfolio conveyed, and where gaps may exist. Then, in a safe and supportive environment, the student applies again, better prepared, more self aware, and more confident.

Yes, we’ve had students choose to leave the class because they wanted to be placed. That feedback matters too. It tells us that some students may not be ready yet to navigate professional expectations, and that’s okay. Readiness is part of learning. But protecting students from how hiring actually works doesn’t prepare them for the future. It simply postpones a reality they’ll face later, often without support.

At its core, this approach isn’t about being strict or extreme. It’s about teaching students how to advocate for themselves, communicate their value, stay curious about people and organizations, and learn from rejection rather than fear it. Today’s world doesn’t hand out opportunities. Students must show what they know, demonstrate what they can do, and bring value to the table.

Internships shouldn’t be about being assigned. They should be about becoming ready. Our goal has never been to check a box on a transcript. Our goal is to develop students who understand how the professional world actually works before they’re thrown into it on their own. That means discomfort at times. It means real conversations. And ultimately, it means students who stand taller, speak with clarity, and know how to earn opportunities instead of waiting for them.

That’s why we don’t place our interns. And that’s exactly why it works.

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