What is an Internship? Would you like to be an intern?

An internship is a structured, short-term work experience program that provides individuals, often students or recent graduates, with practical, hands-on training in a specific field or industry. Internships are typically designed to help individuals gain real-world experience and develop skills relevant to their chosen career path.

Here are some key characteristics of internships:

Compensation – Paid or Unpaid

Internships can be paid or unpaid. Paid internships provide a salary or stipend to participants, while unpaid internships may offer other benefits such as academic credit or valuable experience. Typically you will be told at the outset whether the internship is paid or unpaid.

Duration of Internship

Internships can vary in length, ranging from a few weeks to several months or even a year. The duration often depends on the industry, the company concerned and the specific internship program.

Learning Objectives

Internships have specific learning objectives and goals. Participants are expected to acquire practical knowledge and skills related to their field of study or career interests.

Supervision

Interns typically work under the guidance and supervision of experienced professionals in their chosen field. Supervisors provide mentorship, assign tasks, and offer feedback to their interns.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Interns are assigned various tasks and responsibilities that are relevant to the industry or role they are exploring. These tasks can vary widely, from research and data analysis to project management and client interactions. Some interns, as you have seen in movies end up fetching the coffee and making photocopies. Don’t be discouraged if this happens to you.

Education and Training

In addition to on-the-job training, internships often include educational components such as workshops, seminars, or training sessions to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills.

Networking Opportunities

Internships provide many wonderful opportunities for you to network with professionals in the industry. Building a network can be valuable for your future job searches and career development.

Resume Building

Completing an internship can enhance your resume by showcasing relevant work experience. Employers often value internship experience when hiring entry-level candidates. So you are automatically improving your job prospects when you become an intern.

Potential for Job Offers

Some companies use internships as a recruitment tool, offering full-time job opportunities to interns who excel during their internship period.

Academic Credit

Many educational institutions including local universities allow students to earn academic credit for completing internships. This credit can count toward their degree requirements.

Internships can be found in various industries, including business, healthcare, technology, journalism, arts, nonprofit organizations, and more. They offer participants a chance to apply classroom learning to real-world situations, explore potential career paths, and gain a deeper understanding of their chosen field. Additionally, internships are valuable for employers as they can identify and groom potential talent while completing important projects or tasks.

Explore Careers and Workplace Success Skills

Join the First Day of the Workplace Success Skills Workshop in English to learn more about careers and jobs.

The introductory session discusses careers, finding careers and explains the importance of cultivating Workplace Success Skills.  It covers the following:

• Do you want a job or a career?
• Do you know what careers are right for you?
• Where can you find more information?
• Things You Should Not Do in Choosing a Career 
• What are Workplace Success Skills and why do they matter?
• How good are your Workplace Success Skills? Find out how you fare with a self evaluation questionnaire on 40+ Workplace Success Skills. 
• Identify which Workplace Success Skills you need to develop first.

Explore THIS LINK for details on how to register.

Article by: Nilooka Dissanayake