Starting a career without prior work experience can be daunting. It's a vicious cycle where you need a job to gain experience, but can't get employed without work experience. It is especially true for students, recent graduates, and those seeking to transition into a new field. However, there is a solution - internships. In this blog post, we will explore the top 10 benefits of internships and how they can equip you with the skills needed to thrive in today's competitive job market.
What is an Internship?
An internship is a well-structured and closely monitored learning opportunity in a professional environment that enables individuals to gain hands-on work experience and valuable skills in their area of interest. Whether you're a student seeking to explore your career options or a professional looking to switch to a new field, an internship can be an excellent way to gain practical knowledge and insights into the industry.
Internship programs have long been associated with college students seeking to gain valuable skills and earn extra credits for their coursework. However, the scope of internship programs has expanded in recent years, with college graduates and professionals from various fields taking advantage of these programs for many reasons, such as research or career transitions. Internships are typically divided into two categories;
- Paid internships
- Unpaid internships.
Paid Internships.
Paid internships offer interns —students or not— monetary compensation through weekly salary or stipends throughout the internship while acquiring relevant knowledge and the skills needed to succeed in a particular career. They may be temporary or maybe lead to obtaining a permanent position in the company.
Unpaid Internships.
Unpaid internships offer interns professional work and learning experiences without payment of salary or stipends. It only allows interns to participate in and observe a professional work environment. The monetary differences between these internships do not necessarily determine the quality of knowledge and work experience the individual would get and is not the only benefits of starting an internship. Here are 10 fantastic benefits of an internship.
- To Gain Useful Work Experience
Interns receive valuable practical work experience which cannot be obtained in a classroom environment, making this one of the most notable benefits of internships. The chance to apply knowledge to real work experiences is given to interns while witnessing the day-to-day job duties they can expect in their chosen field. Certain hard and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and computer proficiency are also achieved in an internship, positively preparing interns to enter the workforce.
- To Explore a Career Path
The act of exploring is an integral aspect of the human experience as we continuously seek out novel ways to enhance our lives. It includes venturing into new realms such as cuisine, fashion, travel, as well as our professional pursuits. Internships offer an excellent avenue for individuals to immerse themselves in a field of interest.
While some students enter college with a clear career trajectory in mind, it's not uncommon for them to alter their plans as they progress. By participating in internships, student interns have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their desired field, which can help them determine whether or not it's the right fit for them. For those contemplating a career change, internships can serve as a means of exploring a particular career path before committing to it full-time.
- To build Your Resume and Give Yourself a Competitive Advantage in the Job Market
Getting a job without work experience can be a challenging and daunting task. One of the easiest and safest ways to gain experience and build a marketable resume is to take on an internship. Fresh college graduates who acquired work experience in internships stand out to potential employers. They are more employable as they usually require less training and can handle more obligations. There is a higher chance of a graduate with internship experience receiving a higher starting salary than those who do not have internship experience entering the workforce or starting a new career.
- To Develop and Refine Skills
You can learn a lot about your abilities and inabilities during an internship. You will so develop a lot of soft skills and hard skills during that period. During internships, you receive feedback from supervisors and others who are established in the field. Be open-minded and accept the faults you make as an intern and the many things that you would not know. Inquire about what you do not know or understand, observe work etiquette and operations and take risks to get the most out of your internship training experience.
- To Receive Financial Compensation
Many internships are paid, which means, you can gain useful work experience and earn money too. Even if you do not earn as much as other established staff in the company, getting paid is a great way to start your career and cater for your expenses. With time, as you grow and evolve in your job, you will earn more money. Some companies do not pay interns but provide quality training and work experience which would be very useful in the corporate world later in the future.
- To Network with Professionals in the Field
In the working world, it is all about who you are connected to. As an intern, you will be surrounded by experts in the industry and have access to free mentorship from professionals and field specialists. Getting a grade, or making money is not the only purpose of taking on an internship. It provides a chance to learn from the people around you, ask questions, and impress. Some of the people you encounter during an internship can be your future colleagues or the connection to your first job.
- To Gain Confidence
An internship is an excellent way to occupy some free time with the work you want to pursue in the long run. It can relieve some of the strain of finding a permanent job immediately and assist you in putting the skills and information you have been learning into practice in a safe environment where mistakes are expected, rather than learning the hard way in your first job after college.
- To Transition Into a Job
In recent times, some companies have adopted the use of internships as a way to enhance their recruitment ventures. Interns may get hired by the company where they work or a recommendation written on their behalf to another company. An offer for employment may not happen instantly, but an intern who makes a good impression could receive an offer down the line when an opening occurs. It is a way for companies to test out an employee before committing to hiring them.
How to Know the Right Internship
We have looked at the benefits of starting an internship and you are probably interested in one right now. How do you know the right internship? What are the things to look out for in an internship? Here are a few things to help you out;
- Look out for a company with visions that are in sync with your career aspirations and goals. Do not intern with a company you do not care about or has no connection with what you intend to learn and do as a career person in the future.
- Look out for a company that equips interns to transition to a full-time career in their company or outside. An internship is a learning experience, so pick a company that would help your career dreams and ambitions come true.
- Look out for a company that exposes you to similar challenges you will encounter on the job and imitates a day in life in the industry or your field of interest. As an intern, you may not be exposed fully to the challenges of the job, but go for an establishment that would strike a balance between challenges and rewards—so you do not run off and give up on your career goals because of intense work challenges. Choose a company with a track record of training successful interns and professionals.
- Look for an environment where current employees and staff are open and delighted to help you grow and achieve your career goals. You cannot thrive in a toxic environment where growth is not encouraged. Remember, growth includes mistakes and you would probably make a lot of those as an intern. Choose a setting where employees will help you learn without judgements.
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All the best with your career decisions!
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