As job hunting progresses faster, participating in an “internship” is becoming the norm for many university students. However, if you take the attitude of ``just applying because everyone around you is anxious,’’ you may end up wasting your precious time and effort. In this article, we will explain the real benefits of participating in an internship and how to choose the internship that is right for you.
Three benefits of participating in an internship
1. “Real working image” and “prevention of mismatch”
You cannot understand a company’s true corporate culture or the harshness of its operations just by looking at the pretty information on its website or pamphlet. By participating in an internship and actually entering the office and interacting with employees, you can get a real feel of ``Can you imagine yourself working in this environment?''
2. Ticket to early selection (preferential route)
Currently, many companies are conducting “early selection” or “exemption from some selection (such as GD)” for intern participants. If you achieve excellent results during the fall/winter internship, it is not uncommon for you to receive an informal offer (unofficial offer) around March of your third year of university (first year of master’s degree), before the main selection process begins.
3. Resolution of self-analysis increases
Through group work and practical experience, you will objectively see your own strengths and weaknesses, such as Am I good at leading a team or supporting a team?'' and I like thinking logically, but I’m not good at coming up with ideas.’’ This will be very useful later in the ES (entry sheet) and interview.
How to choose internship types and purposes
There are several types of internships depending on the period and content. Choose according to your purpose.
1. 1-day internship (for industry/company research)
- Content: Mainly company explanation and simple group work.
- Recommended people: People who are in the early stages of job hunting who have not yet decided on the industry they want to work in and want to look at a wide variety of companies.
2. Short-term internship (several days to one week / preferential selection/for personal growth)
- Contents: New business planning and problem-solving type group work is the mainstream. Feedback from employees is also generous.
- Recommended people: People who have narrowed down their desired industry to a certain extent, want to take the early selection route, and want to work hard with excellent students.
3. Long-term internship (1 month to several years / for gaining practical experience and skills)
- Contents: They work in the same way as actual employees and are often paid a salary (hourly wage). sales, marketing, engineers, etc.
- Recommended people: People who “want to acquire overwhelming practical skills” and “want to have the experience they really devoted themselves to during their student days.”
Summary
Internships are not only a way to get a job offer, but also a way to try things on to determine the direction of your career. Rather than choosing a company just because it’s a well-known company, participating with a sense of purpose and thinking about what you want to gain from the company will give you a huge advantage in your future job hunting.