Simply put, it is an opportunity that employers offer to students interested in gaining work experience in particular industries. Continue reading to learn more about what internships are and why students benefit from them.
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What is an internship?
An intern works at a company for a fixed period of time, usually three to six months. Some students will have a part-time internship during which they work at the office for just a few days or hours per week. Others will have full-time internships, meaning they work the same hours as the company’s full-time employees. Internships can occur at any time of the year, including over the summer and during the regular quarter, trimester or semester periods.
Internships offer students a hands-on opportunity to work in their desired field. They learn how their course of study applies to the real world while gaining valuable experience that makes them stronger candidates for jobs after graduation.
An internship can be an excellent way to “try out” a certain career. For instance, you may think that you want a fast-paced job in advertising after college, but during an internship, you may find that it’s not for you; that’s valuable insight that will help you choose your career path.
In some colleges, internships also count towards course credit. This is dependent on your individual school’s requirements, but usually, a three-month-long internship counts as a full course credit.
Interns are usually college or graduate students. While interns are usually older students, freshman and sophomores can seek out internships as well. Having several internships while in college can be very impressive to potential employers.
The daily tasks of an intern can vary widely, even within the same industry. It is largely dependent on the company itself. In some internships, you may do mainly administrative tasks or run errands. But in others, you will be an important part of the team, making substantial contributions to the company.
Our internship program is designed to enable students to engage in field experience with an opportunity to share their insights, to explore the links between academic preparation and field work, and to assist participants with researching and completing a major research project which will serve to conclude their internship experience.
Our internships are individualised and tailored to the needs and interests of each student in the program. As part of the internship experience, students are expected to take an active role in finding an appropriate internship for themselves. If you are a student or an employer, you can apply today to experience the benefits of our professional internship program.
Unpaid internships are common, but there are plenty of paid internships too. Whether or not you will get a wage depends on your chosen industry and role. For instance, editorial interns are rarely paid, while engineering students almost always are.
If you can afford it, an unpaid internship can still be an extremely beneficial experience. You can get serious work experience, build a portfolio and establish a network of professional contacts which can help you after you graduate.
Some companies do extend full-time job offers to exceptional interns, though this is not guaranteed and is the exception rather than the norm. To better your chances of this happening, be proactive in your work, pay attention to detail, be willing to listen and take criticism and volunteer for special projects.
Being a hardworking, reliable worker will place you in a favourable position for consideration. If the company is not hiring at the time your internship ends, do not be disappointed or think it’s a reflection of your work. It’s often simply a budgeting issue. You can still probably count on them for a glowing reference, which you can leverage when applying for jobs later.
You can contact a member of our friendly team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have in relation to Internship opportunities.
