INTERNSHIP; A Blessing in Disguise
As students prepare to leave home for the vacation, I questioned myself on what I would do during the holidays. I eagerly sought places to have my internship and never ceased making inquiries. What is an internship all about, and why will I bother to secure a place to have it? Could I not utilize this opportunity to rest or probably do something else? After all, I had a tough time at school!
An internship is a temporary position at a workplace with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than mere employment and it can be paid or unpaid. To intern means to pass through something. It is offered by an organization for some time, usually a few days and months. An intern is also a student or a trainee who works sometimes without pay to gain work experience.
An unpaid internship is the worst and is considered downright exploitation. To give completely all you have to work and earn no income could be hell. There have been stories of individuals being exploited in many forms. We can talk of interns running errands for staff members as they gain what the internship mainly seeks to offer. During the learning process, one is given some tasks to perform for the company's development in question and would not be paid after all that?
Just like a job, one must go through an application process to be accepted for an internship. It mostly depends on the company and its requirements. Some people find it tedious in applying for an internship while others find it very comforting. Some companies request curriculum vitae. Others interview their interns before they are accepted to be recruited into the company. Therefore, each one of them varies.
While most internships are unpaid, the benefits derived from interning are priceless. An individual gains invaluable professional experience at the workplace. Most of the interns by the time they are done with the training can send emails hands down. An individual has the upper hand of being employed in the working environment. The chance of an intern being selected for a job dramatically increases because he needs not be trained for the work.
Another benefit derived from interning is one’s self-confidence and self-esteem growth. Most people by the end of the training section develop some courage in going about their work duties. They proudly boast of their achievements and capabilities which enables them to fit into the working environment.
They get familiarized with most phone etiquettes. That is, the way and manner one has to represent himself or his business to customers via telephone communication. All these are needed to boost one’s business. Good work ethics cannot be overlooked since the individual adopts the norms and values of the place of internship and applies them when offered a paid job. For instance, being at work the time demanded and performing all activities one is entitled to do. People gain awareness of their workplace through internships. Due to all these, most interns end up getting employed where they took their internship program.
One thing we should not forget is the fact that undertaking an internship enables us to meet new people which helps in building a strong network. We find ourselves around people that can help us get to where we want to be. Friendship and familiarities one way or the other play a significant role in opportunities we finally land in life.
We can bluntly say a student pursuing the degree program is a great start but moving out from the imaginary world to reality is very exciting. Students are not only to focus on the theoretical aspects of the programs they read in school but, they should take the chance to acquire practical skills and feel about the working environment. Even though it may look very insignificant, probably get yourself involved in exploring, you would know it is worth it.
Written by: Ruth Ama Sarpong