Applying for an internship will open many doors for your future career. Internships are the perfect fit for graduates that want to start off their careers, while having no work experience yet. Here are the reasons why you should apply for an internship:
- Acquire new skills
- Gain work experience
- Explore the field
- Build a network
- Get paid
- Work your way up
What is an internship?
An internship is an employment programme for beginners in the professional world. Employers usually hire graduates or promising young individuals with the intention to employ them permanently after the internship.
The goal of an internship is to teach the intern practical skills. During this period the company will give you an overview of the style and work ethic that their employees work by.
The length of an internship may vary, but usually consists of three to twelve months.
Acquire new skills
Being an intern gives you the opportunity to learn skills within a specific line of work. Interns gain practical skills that they would not have learnt during their studies. You will also be introduced to transferable skills, such as working in a team and having good communication skills.
An internship also allows you to have established mentors. This way you can ask as many questions as you want and develop qualities that will make you stand out in the future.
Gain work experience
Having work experience is one of the most important things to put on your CV. Not only will it show employers that you are a valuable candidate, but it will also ensure them that you know what a work environment is like.
Work experience will help you to apply what you have studied, as well as give you an idea of how to improve your professionalism.
If you want to gain work experience, Bellview Institute is the perfect distance learning college for you. Our career-developing courses give you the opportunity to acquire the practical skills you need for the workplace.
Explore the field
The only way you will find out if a certain career path is for you, is to gain experience within the work field. With an internship you can do exactly that. You will also have the chance to see what specialty you would like to go into.
Build a network
It is a great opportunity to build professional relationships with your mentors and other employees. Being surrounded by established individuals in your field of work will help you to learn more about their successes and how they got there. It will also benefit you in the future to have those connections.
To read more about networking, click here.
Get paid
Depending on the type of internship you are doing, your salary may vary. As someone who doesn’t have other work experience, it will definitely be a bonus to receive money while gaining valuable experience.
Most internships in South Africa are paid internships. However, some companies prefer to hire a candidate as a trainee (which is an unpaid position) before they employ them permanently.
Work your way up
When you are working at a company for at least three months you will have the chance to leave a good impression and build relationships with your colleagues. This will motivate the employer to hire you permanently.
Starting with an internship will give you plenty of time to show them what your abilities are. This way you are not just an employee that joined the team as an established professional, but they get to see you grow and succeed. Therefore, your boss will be happy to give you a promotion in the future.
Start off your career at Bellview
Bellview Institute is an accredited distance learning college that offers career-developing courses. With us you can gain qualifications and skills while working at the same time.
Our courses are designed to help you develop the skills you need to step into the professional world. Take a look at our entire course selection, here.
At Bellview you will receive many benefits, such as all year registration and assistance whenever needed.
We would love to hear from you. Contact us:
- Give us a call on our toll-free number 0800 39 00 27
- Fill out our contact form at the bottom of the page·
- Chat to us on Whatsapp 082 318 8892
Author: Simoné Coetzee
Last Updated: 25 January 2021