Entering the workforce is an exciting (yet daunting) notion for many of us. In theory, a professional career is achievable because we believe we’ve been prepped for it our entire lives. From honing our listening through class lectures to keeping track of deadlines, many would think it a solid foundation for kick-starting a career. However, we are also becoming increasingly aware that life in the real world differs drastically from life in a classroom. While the collaborative skills developed in school are advantageous, certain traits can only be obtained through first-hand experience in the corporate world.
Now, what can one do to learn career-world skills without the definite requirements of a full-time job? Do an internship, of course!
An internship, regardless of your chosen field, is an excellent way to gain experience for a potential career. You have the grace of being a student, but you also take on more responsibility to prepare yourself for the demands of a future job. Internships are a safe space where you can steadily shift your perspective as a student to that of a working adult. A glimpse into the day-to-day workings of a job, an internship is also hugely beneficial in emphasizing traits that are required in the workforce but aren’t apparent as a student.
Here are a few skills that one can gain from an internship:
Communication
As students, we often establish a group of friends and acquaintances to whom we regularly talk. As a result, we have a certain comfort level when interacting with people. However, with internships, we are introduced to people of different backgrounds, perspectives, and thought processes. These are people we’ve often never met or conversed with. Here, our comfort zone is tested; now, we learn to talk to people we know nothing about and, more importantly, channel those conversations into a mutually positive working relationship. Internships also instill the importance of frequent (and multi-person) conversation (digitally or in person) to keep work running smoothly. For instance, there are often different departments working on a project; interns quickly learn how everyone needs to be in touch to ensure a solid performance.
2. Problem-Solving
Now, I know most of us think we already know how to do this, but problem-solving in a professional environment is different than tackling issues as a student. It’s more than just missed deadlines or technical issues; it’s about being comfortable to tackle mishaps on the go. Internships provide a window into how one should tackle problems at work. This often includes teaching us how to handle unnoticed discrepancies in documents or resolve conflicts we have with co-workers of polarizing views.
3. Flexibility
During an internship, many interns have supervisors. The two work out mutually appropriate times to meet or discuss projects throughout their time together. This very aspect lays the foundation for flexibility in the workplace, as future (and current) grads learn the importance of adjusting their schedules and activities (at times) to foster a healthy work relationship. Additionally, internships reflect how many full-time jobs include people working from different time zones; we now understand better that everyone’s workday looks different, and we need to be open about shifting things around to ensure productivity isn’t negatively affected.
Internships and College Students
Internships are crucial in expanding skill sets, especially for college students just stepping into the workforce. While there are multiple other skills one can gain as an intern, the ones mentioned above are (I believe) some of the most essential ones. No matter the career one chooses, everyone should partake in an internship to gauge their potential job more closely and understand the traits necessary for the professional world.
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