Apprentice / Internships

An internship is a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, and it can be paid or unpaid. If you want to go into publishing, you might have to take an internship before you are qualified for an actual job.

Generally, an internship consists of an exchange of services for experience between the TWG student and an organization. Students can also use an internship to determine if they have an interest in a particular career, to create a network of contacts, or to gain school credit. Some interns find permanent, paid employment with the organizations for which they worked upon completion of the internship. This can be a significant benefit to the employer as experienced interns often need little or no training when they begin regular employment. Unlike a trainee program, employment at the completion of an internship is not guaranteed.

Internships provide a link between academic learning and professional employment. Since many employers list previous internships as a requirement for their new hires, many applicants are already behind the eight ball if they have not done some type of internship experience during their time in college.

It is recommended that students try out several different internships to be able to get a sense of what it’s like working in a particular career field. This experience allows students to see what it’s like actually working in the field and a chance to evaluate the types of jobs that match their personal interests and personality.

Developing Essential Knowledge & Skills Increases Chances of Getting Hired
The opportunity to meet people currently working in the field, gaining valuable references, as well as getting exposure to the working environment, are three good reasons for students to consider doing one of more internships during college. Since many employers use their internship programs to train and select new hires for the organization, it’s crucial that interns do their best to prove to the employer that they have what it takes to be successful in the job. Internships are a way for students to build on their knowledge and skills while increasing their chances of getting hired for full-time positions that open up in the future.

Gaining Exposure to a Career Field Increases Likelihood of Retention
Not only are employers looking for individuals with relevant experience in the field, they are also looking for people who have had exposure to the field and the company and who really understand what it’s like working at that particular job.

Employers understand that individuals who have not had any exposure to the field, may find that it wasn’t exactly what they expected and may decide to leave after receiving several months of training. Since training is costly for employers, they usually try to avoid these situations whenever possible.