Having first-hand experience is very essential indeed for all graduates and undergraduates alike.
Leaving their higher education institutions while armed only with theories and educational degrees is not enough to compete for a job opportunity. Certainly, what it takes is even more, and getting an internship opportunity paves the way.
It brings an insight into what the real world looks like! Obtaining a real-life experience, regardless of how big or small it is, enlightens interns’ theoretical knowledge and marks a ticket for employment.
No doubt, an internship helps build the personality of graduates, undergraduates and job-seekers too. Whether personally, professionally, or educationally, it serves to develop all aspects of a person. Hence, receiving an internship experience counts when road mapping one’s career future from the early beginning.
Those who were lucky to get an internship opportunity have a plus point on their CVs, in comparison to other counterparts. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Tell me I forget, teach me I may remember, involve me and I learn".
The competition for getting a good job is going on all the time! Applicants, regardless of their educational qualification, shall simply be more professionally qualified than others to win the race.
Given that, going to a college or a university is essential of course, but classroom learning must be backed by gaining real-world experience. Here comes the significance of internship, which undergraduates highly look for.
Internship experience is what distinguishes the competency of graduates from one another. The internship represents a gate pass for graduates toward speedy job hunting after graduation.
Likewise, sometimes it marks a pre-graduation prerequisite for some undergraduates. It is a must-have requirement as it enriches their knowledge and hones interpersonal skills.
Case in point, undergraduates of some scientific specialisations at colleges and universities are obliged to undergo an internship experience to pass a certain course. Besides, getting training experience marks an obligatory task to complete for technical specialties undergraduates.
As practice makes perfect, both graduates and undergraduates need training and internship opportunities, so they can integrate theoretical and practical learning.
Through internships, they can get practical experience at a workplace where knowledge and practice are converged. Further, the internship allows interns to build a presentably rich personal portfolio of educational and work experience. Having good exposure to a career-relevant internship will make a better impression on employers.
Similarly, an internship helps build a network with employers and gain new resources and business relations. During the internship period, interns could interact with many people who will be potential contacts for their network and could be referred when seeking a job afterward. It also presents a good time for interns to market themselves to employers. Many advantages could be acquired from the internship, but unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult for an interns to secure an opportunity himself.
Accordingly, higher education institutions should promote internship programmes for their undergraduates. In order to bring well-educated and trained graduates, internship opportunities shall be offered to all undergraduates.
Possibly, their educational curricula could include a number of internship prerequisites throughout their academic study. Mutual coordination and cooperation internship programmes must also be arranged between higher education institutions and different employers from both government and private sectors.
In some institutions, some dedicated employees are assigned to work on such kinds of business cooperation and understanding with relevant parties. This reflects the strong belief of a university or college on the significance of internship and training opportunities.
Based on undergraduates’ different specialties, they are offered a relevant internship opportunity.
On the other hand, all undergraduates and graduates shall take internship and training seriously for the sake of having insightful academic and practical knowledge and proficiency.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
