W H AT I S N O T C O N S I D E R E D A N I N T E R N S H I P?
• Part-time job with tasks unrelated to career experience and growth with minimal opportunities to learn about student’s career interests • Primarily clerical or unskilled labor • A vague, undefined, unsupervised experience with no training
INTERNSHIP VS. JOB In some cases it may be worth asking if an internship is the best route for your company/organization. If you do not have an appropriate supervisor or time to train an intern you may need to ask yourself if your opportunity an internship or more appropriate as a job? Here are some tips to help determine which opportunity type is the best fit for your goals.
I N T E R N S H I P P O S I T I O N V S. PA RT- O R F U L L -T I M E J O B Internship
Job
Primarily for training purposes
Primarily serves and supports a business need
Has specific learning objectives
More than 20% of responsibilities are administrative
Is not essential to business operations
Is essential to business operations Does work that helps generate revenue for the business
Offers pre-professional tasks and training for current college students
Employee brings expertise & professional experience
For current college students
Requires (or prefers) college degree and years of experience
College level experience needed only Is an extension of academic experience and connected to curriculum
Is expected to hit the ground running
Skills are developed in professional environment Intern shadows staff & business activities
May also manage projects, staff, clients May assist with routine, menial, administrative, production work or as staff for peak times or events
Entry level skills developed are transferable to other workplaces
Intermediate to advanced level skills developed
Intern is closely mentored by staff with expertise in internship area Similar to a teacher-student relationship
Employee has enough expertise to manage responsibilities and needs minimal guidance Works independently and/or as a part of a team
Feedback is given to facilitate learning process Intern meets professionals and begins building a professional network Short term with a fixed start and end date
May be full time, part time, freelance, contract, as needed by employer
Future employment is not promised
CSUCI Internship Toolkit
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