What is an Internship?
An internship is an official program offered by employers to potential employees, called as interns. Internships are short-term work opportunities offered by companies to work at their firm for a fixed amount of time. Interns are usually students (not always necessary) who are keen to get some entry-level exposure to a particular industry or field. An internship is as much as a learning experience as it is work.
As an intern, you’ll get the opportunity to work alongside some experienced professionals in the field and you get a pretty good idea about your entry-level role. You’ll not just gain work experience but also get to meet and learn from professionals and also build your own network in the industry.
Benefits of Internships
1. Gain work experience
One recurring obstacle of any entry-level job search is lack of experience. The hands-on work experience that interns receive in an internship is vital and this can’t be obtained in a classroom, making this one of the most important benefits of internships. In an internship, interns get the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding in real-life applications. Therefore interns get to witness firsthand day-to-day job duties that they can expect to encounter in their particular field. Internships not only improve your abilities by helping you learn new skills in your particular field to add to your knowledge base but also helps you gain confidence by improving your other skills such as communication, teamwork, and computer proficiency which are desired qualities of any employee.
2. Career exploration
Exploring is an important part of life, and internships are a great way for students to learn about a career field from inside and decide whether it is the right career field for them before fully committing. Sometimes during a job search, it is difficult to know where to even start with. Internships offer the chance to try a few things and help interns familiarize themselves with the field they are interested in. Interns get to work alongside industry professionals which give them a chance to observe the workplace and decide if the path is suitable and matches one’s expectation.
3. Stay ahead of others in the job market
One of the most important benefits of doing an internship is that the work experience gained during the internship stands out to potential employers, this gives an edge in the job market. As internships have got more common, employers expect it to be on the job seeker’s resume. Internship experience makes them more marketable and competitive than the people with only relevant coursework. As individuals with experience usually require less training and are capable of handling more responsibilities, the chances of employers hiring them increases.
4. Know your strengths and weaknesses
Internships help one to learn a lot about their strengths and weaknesses. Valuable feedback from the supervisors or other experienced professionals offers a unique learning experience. Refining your skills and embracing the mistakes made as an intern will make you a better employee. An internship experience is all about asking questions, observing and taking risks to get the most out of you.
5. Build your network in the industry
Networking is very important in the professional world, it’s all about who you know. Your network can be vital to your professional success. Interns will be surrounded by professionals in the industry. A strong and expansive network can provide insight into information on job openings and movement within the company. The professionals encountered during an internship can be the intern’s future colleagues or the connection to their first job.
6. Transition into a job
Many companies also use internships as a way to find talents to fill their full-time positions. Internships enhance the company’s recruitment efforts. For most employers, an internship is a smart way to hire for open roles; somewhat like a super-extended interview. This can also be seen as a way for companies to test out employees before committing to hiring them.
All set? Bravo! You got this. Go apply in your dream company as an Intern and give your best shot. Who knows you might have more benefits than the ones listed above?
All the best to you and wait, don’t you forget to check this blog out.
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