Tara received her MBA from Adams State University and is currently working on her DBA from California Southern University. She spent 11 years as a sales and marketing executive. She spent several years with Western Governor's University as a faculty member. Tara has been at Study.com for seven years.
What Is an Internship? - Definition & Characteristics
Understanding Internships
You've studied marketing for a couple of years in college and are eager to put your skills to work in the 'real world,' even though you still have two more years of courses. What are your options: quit school, get a part-time job, or patiently wait until you get your degree. None of the options fit your needs. You want to dig in now while you're still in school and work in a flexible environment. That's when you learn about internships.
Internships are paid or unpaid positions within companies that give you the chance to put your skills to work for a company that offers you a chance to learn and work in a flexible setting. Many times the hours are adaptable to your needs and work around a student's schedule. You have a chance to experience what a job in your field is like before you finish all of your education.
When are Internships Offered
Summer Internships
There are many options for scheduling an internship. Many companies offer summer internships where students come and work full-time during the summer when they are not attending school. These internships are similar to a full-time job and give a feel for what it will be like when students are out of school and working a 40-hour work week.
You learn of an internship opportunity at an advertising agency. The position allows you to work with a wide variety of clients to create marketing messages. In just a few months, you will have a chance to consistently work with 20 different companies, which will allow you to have a wide variety of experiences and opportunities.
Internships During the Semester
Some firms allow students to work during the school year and are flexible around the class schedule. This can be a win-win for both the intern and the organization. The student can continue to take courses and further their education while also gaining valuable work experience in their chosen field. The company benefits by having extra help and support from students who have education in their industry and can handle projects or work on an ongoing basis. The additional benefit for the company is that many internships are unpaid, which provides free work in trade for the opportunity to learn from the company. Even if the internship is paid, the rate is often far below what the pay rate would be for a regular employee. This saves the company money while getting work done.
After completing your summer internship, you ask your contact if they have an ongoing internship opportunity that would allow you to continue to refine your marketing skills during the school year. You figure you can commit to 10 hours per week. This is a great option for the advertising firm because you can use the knowledge you have and the education you will continue to gain during the school year. Their clients speak favorably of you and want to continue to work on the projects you've started with them. This is a positive situation for the clients, the firm, and you.
Internships After Graduation
Another common internship is for recently graduated students to apply their skills immediately after they have completed their degree. This internship often provides more diversity, responsibility, and opportunities for the intern. It also prepares a student to enter the workforce, especially if they don't have solid work experience. Another advantage is it gives a student a foot in the door for companies that may have job openings in the future.
After you finish your degree, you decide you would like to go to New York City and work with a large marketing firm. Because there is a great amount of competition for positions there, you apply for an unpaid internship to get your foot in the door. The internship is scheduled to last four months, giving you a chance to apply all of the knowledge you have while gaining additional valuable skills in a real-life scenario. You work hard during your internship and are excited to learn the company would like to give you a full-time job at the end of your four months. Your internship has turned into long-term employment.
Lesson Summary
Internships are an opportunity to apply knowledge learned in college to a work environment. As an intern, you have a chance to work in a company, learn from others, and try out what you've studied in school. Internships may be paid or unpaid and often provide flexibility to match a student's schedule. Companies may offer internships during the summer, during the semester, or after graduation.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackWhat Is an Internship? - Definition & Characteristics
Related Study Materials
- TExES Science of Teaching Reading (293): Practice & Study Guide
- Next Gen NCLEX-PN Study Guide & Practice
- Next Gen NCLEX-RN Study Guide & Practice
- TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391): Practice & Study Guide
- TExES School Counselor (252): Practice & Study Guide
- Multithreading, Networking & Machine Learning in Python
- Digital Forensics
- The Internet of Things and Networking
- Network Routing and Switching
- Virtual Servers and Networking
- How to Pick Your Homeschool Curriculum
- Role of Student Support in Open & Distance Learning
- TExES Principal Exam Redesign (068 vs. 268)
- Teacher Salary by State
- ESL Resource Guide for Teachers
- What is a Homeschool Co-op?
- How to Start Homeschooling Your Children
Latest Courses
- Mechanistic & Organic Organizational Business Structures
- Chemical Nomenclature & Notation
- Factors Impacting Family & Consumer Sciences
- Heritability Coefficient
- Preparation Procedures for Aerobic & Anaerobic Bacteria Specimens
- Defense Risk Control Strategy
- Compulsory Education: Definition, Laws & History
- Quiz & Worksheet - Common Health Problems in the US
- What are Dinosaurs Related to? - Quiz & Worksheet for Kids
- Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Personality Disorders
- Quiz & Worksheet - Memory Hole in 1984
- Flashcards - Real Estate Marketing Basics
- Flashcards - Promotional Marketing in Real Estate
- Elementary Science Worksheets and Printables
- Noun Worksheets
Latest Lessons
- American Government: Help and Review
- MTTC Business, Management, Marketing & Technology (098): Practice & Study Guide
- CSET Science Subtest II Life Sciences (217): Practice Test & Study Guide
- SAT Subject Test Chemistry: Practice and Study Guide
- High School World History: Help and Review
- MTEL History: The Industrial Revolution & Enlightenment
- MTTC History: The Bronze & Iron Ages
- Quiz & Worksheet - Electrochemical Cells
- Quiz & Worksheet - Absolute Advantage vs. Comparative Advantage
- Quiz & Worksheet - How to Predict Bond Polarity and Ionic Character
- Quiz & Worksheet - Function of Fibroblasts
- Quiz & Worksheet - Cerebral Cortex
Popular Courses
- Aggregate Fruit: Definition & Examples
- Shell Shock & PTSD
- Curriculum Vitae Template
- Which is Easier: GMAT or GRE?
- How to Find an AP Environmental Science Released Exam
- Best Free Online English Courses
- Creative Writing Prompts for High School
- What Is the GMAT?
- Good Persuasive Writing Topics for Kids
- How To Create SAT Vocabulary Flashcards
- School Closures in Illinois: Online Learning for IL Teachers and Students
- Air Pressure Experiments for Kids
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers