‘Getting the internship edge’

Ask your college- going neighbour about his/her plans for summer vacations and “I’m doing an internship,” will probably be the answer. Today, when employers favour prospective employees who have had exposure to multiple internships to gain experience, the importance of an internship cannot be understated. In today’s time theoretical knowledge is not enough, one must have practical experience in their respective fields and that is where fellowships make a difference by placing the student in a real life situation to perform professional tasks.

Even though the streets of India may seem chaotic, our economy is certainly making progress, contributing to new forms of employment and internships. This is one of the reasons for the increasing number of internship seekers now. Thanks to the growth of India and its strengthening presence in the world economy, the interest of many foreign students too now lie in this booming region.

Whether an internship is mandatory or a matter of choice, it has numerous benefits which open doors of opportunity to students. Such benefits are the reasons why fellowships are considered investments in resumes.

Fellowships not only help in gaining invaluable professional experience but also helps in growing an individual’s self confidence, self esteem as well as builds motivation and work habits. It increases the possibility of a successful job hunt while giving you an added advantage over your classmates and other applicants who haven’t done any.

An internship turning into a job is one of the rewarding outcomes. Everyone you meet in a fellowship is a potential contact for your network. If your field has more than one niche, for example in media, then an internship enables you to take your career plan for a test drive, and it helps you to decide which field is better for you among them.

According to a survey, 51 per cent of employers are now focusing on relevant internship experience to find the best fits for their companies. 37 per cent of students reported that internships are one of the most effective job search resources available and hence an essential reason why fellowship seekers are increasing steadily.

“Over the past few years there has been a drastic rise in the figure of college students applying for internships. This is because colleges are encouraging students to move out of their comfort zone, gather corporate exposure to further enhance their skills and improve their employability level” said an AD of a communication consultancy.

On being asked about the same, a first year student said, “We want to be better than the rest and be part of crème de la crème”.