When I started my internship, I thought I was just gaining work experience for my resume. But what I was yet to discover is the real importance of the life experience an internship gives you - both professionally and personally.
Work VS. Academic
An internship is a bridge between the theory taught in classrooms and the actions in the real world workplace. Every internship experience differs from each other because of the uniqueness in each of us and because every company has its own culture and work ethics.
It’s important to understand these last ones as it’s going to facilitate the adaptation to a new work environment. However, adaptability it’s not the only professional skill that you will develop in an internship but along with it you’ll find yourself embracing communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills as you advance in your internship.
Importance of Networking
During the internship, you’ll find yourself working with professionals and learning from the industry in first person. You’ll learn from expertise in your field as they share their experience and knowledge with you, and you’ll create professional relationships with them which are important to maintain for future opportunities.
Networking is really important as 70-80% of jobs are because of a connection. This person could be your mentor. Mentors play an important role because they follow your progress and help you achieve your goals.
Additional benefits
This work and life experience will boost your confidence in taking over projects and making real contributions with real results, while also developing your independence in overcoming challenges and taking decisions on your own. Independence also comes from being able to be organized and responsible toward others and your duties.
Conclusion
One last point I want to touch on is how internships help you understand what your skills are and how to use them, while realizing what you enjoy (or don’t) in a work setting. It will help in your long-term career path because it will make you start ahead of the “game”.
Through internships one learns important skills together with resilience and adaptability as well as the necessity of moving past the comfort zone. The learning experience from internships creates more than workplace skills since it transforms you into a confident professional with additional strength.
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