A lot of people think of interns as the coffee fetchers of the business world. While it is possible that you will have to get coffee as an intern, there should be a lot more involved with your position. Internships are unique positions that can provide you with the training you need to start your career. You may or may not have to go through one of them, depending on the industry you plan to find employment in. This article provides an overview of the interning process so you can have a better understanding of what may come in your future.
The Purpose of Internships
The overall purpose of internships is to give you hands-on training for your career in an actual work setting. You can’t learn how to become a paramedic without getting into the field eventually. That applies to a wide variety of careers. If you can work with people who already have experience in your industry, you can get a better understanding of what you will be doing in the future. Without an internship, you are basically jumping into a career blind.
Paid Internships vs. Unpaid Internships
Some internships are paid positions, and others require you to do work for free. Paid positions are obviously more desirable, but they are not as abundant as unpaid internships. This is especially true in today’s economy, as businesses strive to cut costs as much as possible. In some cases, you may be able to gain college credit for an unpaid internship if you work something out with the school. Otherwise, you will just have to take the training for all it’s worth and try to maintain a job on the side. This is tough to do, but it certainly isn’t impossible.
Common Duties for Interns
The duties of an intern will vary by job, so you may do something totally different than a friend of yours in an internship. For the most part, interns do have to take over some of the mundane tasks in an office, like passing out mail or answering phone calls. However, most interns also get a chance to work with their employers on small projects. They can’t take on a ton of responsibility, but they can take on enough to get the training they need. When I was an architecture student, I met some of the interns at one of the local firms. They got to actually run some of the design projects for the office under the supervision of the lead architect. You may do something similar in your line of work.
Interns often work as secretaries for meetings, taking notes that will later be complied into reports. This may seem like a boring task, but it could give you a chance to sit in with a meeting for your place of employment. Then you can listen to the matters at hand and try to pick up on some of the concerns your employers are facing. All of this will act as insight for your future career. Without that insight, you may never truly know what to expect.
Conclusion
Internships aren’t exactly like real jobs, but they can certainly lead you to a real job in the future. For now, you can consider them a supplement to your education. No matter what line of work you are in, you will most likely benefit from having an internship under your belt. You just have to find the right opportunity and make the most out of it. With a little effort, you could be well on your way to a successful career.
