What Is An Internship

What Is An Internship What Is An Internship?Posted April 15, 2019, by EleshaInternships are more important than ever for entry-level job candidates. An internship, paid or unpaid, gives you hands-on industry experience and an edge when applying for jobs. For many employers, an internship on your CV may be the deciding factor on whether you land the role or not. What Exactly Is An Internship?Essentially, an internship iswork experience and training with an employer in a specific industry for a certain period of time. Internships might be short, with some lasting only a week while others will be long as 12 months. During this time, the internship candidate (usually a student or graduate), is exposed to the day-to-day work environment and gets hands-on learning experience in the field. Complimenting the studies the student has or is undertaking, this real-world experience is extremely valuable and viewed as a real asset by employers. Internships are available in all kinds of sectors inc luding IT, banking and finance, marketing and sales, public relation, government departments, human resources, and environment and sustainability. This is just naming a few internships are available (and are highly valued) in a huge range of industries. Different Types Of Internships Lets take a look at the different types of internships and nope, theyre not only for graduates and students. Taking an internship when making a career change is a great way to learn more about a new industryPaid InternshipThe main difference between a paid and non-paid internship is pretty obvious the money. In a paid internship, youll be paid a wage.While it may sound like taking a paid internship over an unpaid one is a no brainer, there are definitely other factors to consider. Unpaid internships may offer more perks in some circumstances. For example, small businesses, and startups might not have the budget for a paid internship but could offer a lot more hands-on experience than a big organisation for their interns.Unpaid InternshipIf youre still a student with no work experience at all, taking an unpaid internship may open up future (paid) opportunities with the organisation. The potential to move from the internship into a full-time role in the organisation is a major incentive to take an unpaid opportunity. Internships in areas like media (radio, television, print), non-profit organisations, startups and politics dont usually offer any remuneration. Australias Fair Work Ombudsmensets out some guidelines around paid vs unpaid internships.Student InternshipThe earlier you can get insight into how the industry youre interested in works, the better. As a student, taking an internship can help you decide if a certain career path really is for you. Theres nothing to say you cant take a few internships in different industries to explore your options while youre still studying. As a student, its great to try as many things as possible so you dont feel locked into one thing too ear ly. Graduate InternshipGraduate internships typically commence straight after completing the final year of study and consist of supervised, hands-on training related to the graduates academic background and career goals. The training could also be quite general to give the graduate a feel for the different roles and areas within an organisation. Graduate internships are usually unpaid. How To Get An InternshipWant to get an internship but not sure where to start? Heres how to get the tanzabend rolling. ResearchTime to get your Google on. Spend time researching different organisations in the industry youd like to land an internship. Find out if they already offer internships, but dont be discouraged if they dont. You may become the organisations very first internThere are also Australian graduate programs for internships that work to place you with a company in an industry of your choice. Youll usually pay for these services though, so why not reach out to an organisation youre inter ested in directly?Reach OutRegardless of whether a company has an intern program and open position or not, reach out to them with your interest. Getting in nichts von with a company who isnt advertising internships can actually be an advantage. You might be the only one approaching them, rather than competing with others for an advertised position.Crafting a great cover letter and finding the right person to send it to is a crucial part of this step. You want to show youve researched the company and how their mission aligns with your studies, interests and career goals. Also, dont do the whole to whom it may concern thing address your cover letter to an actual person. If you cant tell from the organisation website or LinkedIn profile who that may be, address it to the CEO or Director. Network Its so important to network when starting your career or taking the next step, whether it be landing an internship, a new job or a whole new career. The idea of networking might feel a little o verwhelming, especially if youve never done it before, but it doesnt have to be a big, scary deal Heres how to get yourself noticed on LinkedIn and some tips on the art of networking.You never know, that internship you land might open career paths and opportunities you never knew existed ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheswhat is communication skillswhat is a futures traderwhat is vocational education and training key featureseffective oral and written communication skillscareer advisor online CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineEleshaRelated ArticlesBr owse moreAgricultureA different kind of hay feverWe chat to Rohan Brill, a Research and Development Agronomist for the NSW Department of Primary Industries, about why he chose a career in Agriculture.CAREER ADVICERecession-proof your careerEmployers are starting to feel the vicious bite of the global financial crisis and many are cutting back on costs and staff. 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