An internship is a short-term work experience that provides students or recent graduates with practical exposure in a professional setting.
- Fresh perspectives and ideas
- Potential future hires
- Increased productivity on projects
- Enhanced brand reputation among students
Internships typically last between 8-12 weeks, but they can be shorter or longer depending on business needs.
While unpaid internships exist, paid internships are generally encouraged to attract high-quality candidates and comply with labor laws.
This depends on your country’s labor laws. In many cases, interns must be provided with fair compensation, proper work conditions, and, in some cases, academic credit eligibility.
Interns should be given meaningful work related to their field of study, such as:
- Research and data analysis
- Project support
- Shadowing professionals
- Administrative support (but not exclusively)
- Regular feedback sessions
- Goal tracking and progress reports
- Supervisor assessments
- Self-evaluations
- Role and responsibilities
- Duration and working hours
- Compensation (if applicable)
- Supervisor details
- Confidentiality clauses (if needed)
Yes! Many companies use internships as a recruitment pipeline for full-time hires.
- Offer competitive pay
- Provide mentorship and learning opportunities
- Build relationships with universities and career centers
- Have a clear and structured internship program