WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP ?
An internship is a short-term work experience offered by companies and other organizations for individuals, usually students, but not always, to gain entry-level exposure to a particular industry or field. It is both a learning experience and a job. Ideally, interns spend their time working on relevant projects, learning about the field, making industry connections, and developing both hard and soft skills. Internships sometimes even lead to full-time job offers.
Summer internships are typically 40 hours a week for 10 to 12 weeks. Fall and spring internships vary, but are almost always part-time. Some are paid. Some are not. We will talk more about that later.
WHY ARE INTERNSHIPS IMPORTANT ?
As an intern, you have the opportunity to work side-by-side with consummate industry professionals and have a pretty good idea of ​​what an entry-level position might entail. Not only will you get real work experience, but you will also meet the professionals and learn from them. And you’ll start building your own network, from your fellow interns to seasoned leaders.
Another less obvious but equally important benefit of an internship is the opportunity to discover what you don’t want to do. It is often difficult to know where to start when it comes to looking for work. Internships give you the opportunity to try a few things without committing yourself. If you are lucky, you will find something that you like. And if not, at least you know what is not working for you. When it comes to something as complicated as finding the right career, the more information you have to work with, the better.
As internships have become increasingly common, employers are hoping to see them on resumes. Applicants with prior work experience are much more competitive than those with only relevant courses. Internships offer you the opportunity not only to develop relevant skills and learn about the field, but also to demonstrate those skills and industry acumen on the job. For most employers, even those who are extremely adept at hiring new graduates, nothing makes up for the real-life experience.
Companies also use internships as talent pipelines to fill their own full-time positions. For employers, internships are many things: a very extended interview, a training program, and (often) a smart way to hire for open positions. This means that some college students may enter their senior year with job offers in hand (and thus have a much less stressful last year in school).
In short, internships can help you figure out what you want to do with your career, and then make it easier for you to land your first full-time job in that industry.
DO THEY PAY ?
The amount that interns are paid varies greatly by industry. Technology and finance tend to pay on the higher end, while journalism, fashion, and nonprofits in any field often pay on the lower end (or don’t pay at all). According to the National Association of Universities and Employers (NACE), 56.7% of seniors who graduated in 2017 recently had a paid internship or cooperative experience, compared to 53.7% in 2014, while that 43.3% did not receive payment. College students who were paid in 2018 earned an average of around R180.50 per hour. Graduate students were paid slightly more, and Ph.D. students earned an average of R323 an hour.
As short-term workers, interns generally do not receive health or other benefits that full-time employees do. But depending on the industry and size of the business, it could offer benefits ranging from hosting a handful of social events or vacation days to covering relocation and even housing.
I HOPE THIS SHALL HELP SOMEBODY OUT THERE!!
