The benefits of internships

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Internships, both a valuable add-on alongside an academic degree and a great way to explore and develop skills in a new industry. Also known as placements, internships are often a good way to add get relevant experience onto a resume when branching out into a new sector.

Here are some things worth knowing about the benefits of internships.

It opens networking opportunities

Getting a foot in the door into a new industry is the perfect way to meet like-minded people. It’s advisable for interns to meet a range of people outside the department or company as they might find themselves being asked to stay on for work in other areas of the business.  

It provides experience and communication skills

No matter where the placement is, interns will find themselves working with experienced professionals. Internships can be the best way to learn from a manager or team and get immersed in a new working culture.

Interns are expected to be out of their comfort zone, so it’s the perfect place to make mistakes and learn from them along the way.

They can teach workplace communication skills

Good communication skills are essential in the workplace. Interns shouldn’t be afraid to express themselves and share any challenges with their managers. It helps a manager fulfill the time spent during the duration of the internship and understand what they want to achieve out of it.

It can be a kickstart to a new career

During the placement, interns will often find themselves doing ‘real’ work. Internships offer the hands-on experience not available at university. A mentor or manager may end up offering some of the best career advice and industry-relevant tips to help with future opportunities. Apart from that, doing internships may just increase the chances of getting a job after graduation. Most companies typically prefer to hire internally, and this can include interns stepping into full-time positions.

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