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Successful Internship
By peace | December 13, 2006
In North America, an intern is one who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on education rather than merely employment, making it similar in some respects to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students or other young adults. They can also be adults later in life seeking skills for a new career.
An internship may be either paid, unpaid or partially paid (in the form of a stipend). Paid internships are most common in the medical, science, engineering, business (especially accounting and finance), technology and advertising fields. Internship positions are available from businesses, government departments, nonprofit groups and organizations.
Internships may be part-time or full-time; typically they are part-time during the University year and full-time in the summer, and they typically last 6-12 weeks, but can be shorter or longer.
Benefits and Hiring Process
Internships offer benefits that may include instruction and mentorship; work experience; networking opportunities; and a verbal or written letter of reference. The National Association of Colleges and Employers has found that students who perform internships have a higher starting salary. Ideally, the employer has thought carefully about the benefits they can offer and described them in the posting. It is also up to the applicant to research or ask about the details of the situation.
To find a suitable match, the hiring process is just as important as with permanent work. The job description should clearly describe the position, background information, expectations, benefits and how to apply. It should either ask for a cover letter and resume or provide an application form. The interview and reference check are equally important. To avoid surprises for either party, it is important to maintain clear and honest communication of both the employer’s needs and expectations — and the potential intern’s. Some colleges ask students and employers to fill out a “learning contract”, which specifies what the students will learn in the internship, to avoid any misunderstanding.
In the context of medical education, an intern (a “houseman” in the U.K.) is a physician who is in his or her first year of postgraduate training (PGY1).
Stages of an Internship
H. Frederick Sweitzer, Mary A. King developed theory of the stages students typically go through in an internship in their book, The Successful Internship.
1. Anticipation: In this stage, students are beginning the internship with excitement and some anxiety. They may worry that they are not prepared for the internship or worry about fitting in. Students should try to check with their supervisor to find out what to expect and to check if their assumptions are correct. Discussing learning objectives with the supervisor can also help.
2. Disillusionment: Excitement wears off, and students might feel some disappointment about the “real world.” Sometimes students discover that the world of work is very different from what they are used to in school. They might be disappointed to find that their supervisor has other responsibilities besides supervising them.
3. Confrontation: Facing disillusionment may be difficult, but can help students grow. Students may have to re-examine their goals and expectations. Comparing the internship description and/or the learning goals with reality may help as a reality check. Interpersonal issues should be discussed.
4. Competence: Morale increases. Students feel more professional. There is increased productivity. Students can ask for higher level tasks; they feel more like a part of the organization.
5. Culmination: At the end of the internship, students may feel pride in their accomplishments, as well as sadness upon ending the work experience. There may be some guilt at not having accomplished more, or because the project students have worked on may not continue once they leave. Talking with the supervisor may help with these feelings.
Diversity Internship Programs
There are several organizations that provide extremely competitive internship programs for minorities. Some of the best-known are Inroads, which places over 5,100 minority college students in paid corporate internships each year; and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, which places students in internships in fields such as management consulting and investment banking. Other organizations, such as the United Negro College Fund, organized corporate-sponsored internships that also provide a scholarship.
There are literally hundreds of opportunities for internships abroad. Intern Town is an UK based website that communicates between companies and interns. The website is fairly new but one can find interns all over the world and for companies worldwide to advert their internships.
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