5 Importance of Internship Experience

The concept of an internship

You need the experience to gain hands-on knowledge in your career field. In today’s labour market, employers rely heavily on resumes that demonstrate relevant work history, whether it is from actual job experience, volunteer work, or interning at a company.

An internship is an official program offered by organisations to help train and provide work experience to students and recent graduates. The concept of working as an intern began a long time ago but has drastically evolved over the years. Internships first started as a labourer who would take on young individuals and teach them their art or trade. In exchange for being taught a skill, the trainee would agree to work for the labourer for a specific time. Even then, the purpose of an internship or rather, an apprenticeship, was to gain new skills to be able to obtain future work.

In modern interning, an intern or trainee can work for an organisation for a specific amount of time. Interns can work for 1–12 months or longer, depending on the company and the industry. Internships are popular amongst graduate and undergraduate students who need to gain research or valuable work experience. Almost every sector and type of company, from a large multinational corporation to a small startup, now offers internships. Additionally, there has been a rise in remote/virtual internships – which is the ability to intern virtually for global companies. The vast number of internship opportunities available indicates the importance of an internship in today’s world.

How valuable is job experience?

Getting work experience is an essential aspect of starting your career as a young graduate. The earlier you start gaining experience for your CV, the better. Job experience is not just restricted to an office job with a large organisation. You can get an internship at a small company or get experience by freelancing. Any experience where you use skills that you can transfer to your future career is an excellent addition to your CV. It can help you demonstrate your commitment and capabilities to an employer while highlighting the skills that are both appropriate and transferable to the post you are applying for. An internship is one of the best ways to gain that all-important job experience.

Here are the top 5 reasons we think show the importance of an internship.

Internships provide exposure to the real world

Unfortunately, in today’s job market, passing exams with high scores and getting a degree doesn’t offer the much-needed work experience, you will need to succeed in a workspace.

By partaking in an internship, you will be able to gain real-life exposure, grow your knowledge and determine if you are in the right career field. Internships not only provide you with first-hand experience in the real working world but also enable you to understand the career trajectory for your desired job title. You can learn how to apply the knowledge you have acquired during an internship to your future workplaces.

In addition to this, it is an excellent learning curve for young graduates and students while meeting new people and making connections in the professional world.

Internships give you a platform to establish critical networking connections

Networking is the exchange of information between individuals to form acquaintances and relationships to further their professional career. An internship is an experiential learning opportunity that offers an invaluable chance for students to network and build crucial professional connections before they even graduate.

For some students, it is a stepping-stone to bonus opportunities within the same organisation, including a full-time job. The more people you meet in the professional world with the same interest, the higher your chances are to grow as a professional. You will get to know how these people work, what strategies they use to tackle a difficult situation, and how they get the job done. Different people have different skills. Meeting them and watching them work will help you understand how to work with different people and in various work environments. You can use their strategies and reinvent them for your circumstances.

5 Importance of Internship Experience

Regardless of your educational level and your educational background, acquiring industrial experience has a significant influence on your future career. With the changing face of the society where there is competition in every sector, having an internship experience gives you a crucial advantage. It will show that you are a reliable professional with hands-on experience, as well as suggest your dedication. Hence, the majority of degrees and short-term training programs have included internship programs in their curriculum.

Today, we’ll cover the five reasons why an internship experience is important. 

Real-life experiences and exposure:

Internships are a great way to integrate with a company and acquire real-life experiences. The more hands-on experience you have, the more you can stand out from your peers as a solid candidate for the job. Moreover, an internship is the best option to gain a proper understanding of the industry/field you have chosen for your forthcoming career while exposing you to the potential pros and cons of the field/industry you have chosen.

Improve marketability and professionalism:

Having an internship shows that you are a dedicated employee, as it takes a lot of dedication to find that one perfect position you’re looking for. It is a great stepping stone for your future career growth and professional development. The experiences you gained during the internship will improve your chances of getting selected for the job you apply for.

Potential to turn full-time:

Depending on your company and your performance, there may be the potential to move from an internship position to a full-time role with the same or similar company after obtaining your degree or completing your studies.

Grow as a person and gain confidence:

Internships can help you obtain a better understanding of what a particular position entails on a day-to-day basis, as well as help you grow and gain confidence. You will learn to move out of your comfort zone to keep up with the expectation of the position while evolving yourself into a competent potential employee. You will realize that you’re not too far from that goal you’re looking for and it will motivate you to keep going!

Learn new skills:

Regardless of your field, there are bound to be new skills to learn. Learning is a never-ending process. There is always something yet to learn and master, as most companies allow their interns to work in different departments and find their desired one.

Hence, internships are a treasure chest full of benefits like improvement in personal aptitude, strengthened personal character, improved confidence, gaining experiences and skills, and so on. You won’t regret investing in an internship program because, at the other end of this internship, there is a wide range of possibilities for a brighter future career