Internships are jobs that people do for a short amount of time in a particular field to get relevant work experience. The ones who have newly graduated get into internships to get recommendations and experiences before working full time. However, you can be an intern while you are still in college; it will make things more comfortable if you want a full-time job right after college. The Internship is the period when you get to learn the work culture and get the first-hand experience. It will also help in your resume and give you better opportunities than those who have no experience.

Internships allow interns’ to experience the work they are not sure of before they fully commit to such a career path. Since it is just for a short period, it does not ask for any long-term commitment. This phase is seen as experimenting with different jobs before you find the right one. 

People find their internships through various platforms or connections like family and friends or through websites and college job recruiting cells. The type of internships vary from the period to payment; it will depend on the company’s needs and their terms. There are paid and unpaid internships available.

Some of the benefits of taking internships are that you get the first-hand experience of working life. Companies usually prefer people who have some work experience outside the classroom teaching and conventional way of learning. People who have done some internships will often have more advantages over others who have not done it. It is a way to take what you have learned in the class and apply it to the real world.

Another advantage for people who take internships is that they will have networks for their future use. They may connect with the clients they deal with or the people they are working with depending on the type of work. When the internships get over and finally start looking for a full-time job, this connection can help them get the relevant jobs they are looking for. Knowing expertise is also an experience gained during the Internship.

In case the company is happy with your work during your Internship they will even consider hiring you for full time. If you work in a company and are satisfied with the work ethics, values, and salary, you can apply for a full time in the same company after finishing the Internship.  

You will also get the opportunity to work and learn from the professionals and the experts first hand. It will be a great way to polish your skills professionally and get connections you may need when you look for a full-time job. 

It an excellent opportunity to experience different career paths you can choose with no long-term commitment. If you are not so sure whether you want to become a content writer or a graphic designer but want to try out both, you can take a two-month internship and see which one you like better or enjoy better. You will also get to know if the job you are dreaming of suits you or not. Perhaps after getting the experience, you may realize the job is not for you. There are different types of internships –

Paid Internships – these are internships that will pay you for your work. We find this paid Internship in private sectors who have money to pay the interns while still learning. 

Internships for credit – most colleges ask the students to complete an internship in their specific academic field before they graduate. They take up internships for their credits that add to their college mark sheets.

Non Profit Internships – in such internships, the interns typically do not get paid because it is a non-profit organization; they do charity works and provide services instead of earning.

Summer Internships – Students do their internships during summer breaks when they have some time out from their college work. They are short term internships but give real-life experience into the working culture.

There are some differences between working as an intern in a larger company and in a smaller company. When you work in a larger company, perhaps the most significant advantage is getting the brand-name company on your resume. In the future, when you look for any job, your resume will stand out because of the place you have worked in. The companies will also have more resources than smaller ones. You will have many tools to use and information you can gain from. The larger companies have a greater chance of having professionals and expertise to work with and learn many things from them. However, you may face some problems like you can not be creative with your work, show your potential, or there will be no flexibility in your work. It will all be very rigid and structured.

Working for smaller companies, on the other hand, gives you the freedom to be creative and make valuable contributions to the company; you can share your ideas and input, which will be considered by the company. Even though there will be lesser tools and the people you are working with may not be that well known, you will be able to make meaningful relationships with the people because there are just a handful of people. You will also get real opportunities to help others in the company. You will have flexibility in your work because your work will be a combination of many things so you can take on more responsibility for the company. You will see growth in yourself when you finish your Internship. 

Both types of companies will have their advantages and disadvantages; it is for you to decide which one you would sacrifice. The experience may vary from firm to firm, but this is a general observation.

Some of the challenges you might face as a new intern are that you might be assigned with unusual jobs and works like getting coffee or running an errand. You should make the best use of the situation and get to know the place and people while doing such work. There are internships that will not pay, be sure to discuss the terms before joining the Internship. Do not keep the discussion for later. 

At the beginning of any Internship, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by all the workload. Be sure to have a healthy working environment where you do not get pressured. Approach the manager if you are struggling with the work. If nothing changes after that, you should consider talking to someone who can give valuable advice like your professor or another intern from the same firm and do the needful. Ask for feedback on your work and make necessary changes; this will improve your work. And while doing all the essential work, don’t forget to have fun with your work. As a new intern, it could be a stressful process since everything is new; you will most likely be caught up in your work and stressed all the time. Take some time and try to enjoy what you do. Having fun with your work will give you better results than just worrying all the time.