The Excelerator’s Guide to Turning Internships into Full-Time Career
Classroom learning provides a theoretical framework, knowledge, and skills but is unable to provide exposure to real-world environments, which is possible only through experiential learning. Internships fill this gap of providing experiences that help understand the industrial landscape and workflow processes.
Experiential learning differs from conventional approaches as learners are involved or actively engaged in learning. Experiential learning occurs not only by nature walks but also by simulations, gamification, internships, and lab experiments.
Experiential learner gains the advantage of reflecting on the experiences and improving the learning outcome. Experiential learning provides opportunities for involvement in teamwork, which in turn improves collaboration and communication skills. Experiential learning is personalized and self-directed learning. Such learning gives autonomy and ownership of learning. It also leads to intrinsic motivation
Networking:
Internships help connect you with professionals who may provide mentorship, references, and job opportunities.
Soft Skills Development:
Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity are some of the skills required for success in a career. Experiential learning enhances the competencies of the student.
Resume Enhancement:
Internship experience adds value to the resume and improves the chances of being considered for full-time employment. It reflects a desire to learn, initiative, and drive to take up challenges.
Express Interest:
Internship helps convey the interest of the student in working for the company in a full-time role. Companies give emphasis to hiring interns who are already familiar with the work environment.
Strategy and Implementation:
Students may have theoretical knowledge but lack experiences in applying knowledge and skills in a work environment. It requires research, planning, conceptualizing, and implementation. This is gained through internships.
Company Insights:
Internships provide opportunities to understand the vision and mission of the company. It also helps understand the work culture, goals, and its standing vis-à-vis its standing in the industry.
Demonstrate Value:
Students may use the internship duration to show initiative, work ethic, and demonstrate value. Create reports and evidence for lessons learned during the internship.
Confidence:
Internship experience boosts self-confidence and helps stay motivated, energetic and enthusiastic
Duration of Internship
Duration of the internship also plays a vital part in its effectiveness for career growth. Ideally, a one-month internship gives an opportunity to be involved in tasks and projects that provide insights into how to plan and execute ideas and attain problem-solving skills.
If an internship is chosen based on career goals and a company is chosen in terms of learning opportunities and mentorship provided, it will help in shaping a successful career.
A choice of on-site, hybrid, or virtual internships is available. Look for companies with a reputation and good work culture to get the best internship outcome. It is important for the student to stay in touch with the company to know of future openings.
Excelerate, the experiential learning platform, provides four-week Virtual Internships where students are involved in projects guided by the Excelerate team. It gives learners exposure to real-world environments and develops skills for future workspaces.