What is an Internship? | Internship Meaning & definiion | Internship Letter format & Sample

---

Internship - As per the Chegg 2019 reports, around 60 percent of US students opted for internships since 2013, and amongst them, 31 percent of students started internships right after their graduations. Corporate recruitments for trainees and interns start in the US around 8 months before the actual internship starts, according to the NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) reports. 

Fast company (2019) report says around 300 million interns are recruited by various US organizations every year.

Many students applying for internships are not aware of internship meaning. An easy internship definition would be - an internship is a short-term learning experience or qualification a trainee or a student gathers/earns by working in an organization. Initially, the term was used for medical students and graduates, but eventually, many government and non-government organizations, NGOs, institutes, and businesses started hiring interns. Many organizations provide stipends and internship certificate, letter as well, apart from honing the skillset of several students and trainees. 

Internship Meaning

According to Oxford Dictionary, an Internship is – “a period during which a student or new graduate gets practical experience in a job, for example during the summer holiday.”

There's no standardized explanation of internship, so one can interpret it the way she or he wants to. Internship meaning, therefore, is different for various students and trainees. The interns can be students, graduates, post-graduates, or anyone who wants to explore beyond his or her theoretical knowledge. A type of internship also varies, as the skillset of the interns and their field of work.

Often, internship meaning confused with apprenticeship, but internships can be quite diversified, unlike apprenticeships. The apprentices are usually bound to a particular field and function with a guide. For internships, it is rather exploring the unknown world with little knowledge of the professional set up. There’s no one to support you, but a bunch of professionals who would help you to solve a coding problem or help you out with your research work as per their convenience and availability.

Do not expect that an internship is a surety of a job. Rather, it is an experience with specific learning objectives. An internship can support an intern to explore his/her field of skills and interest and apply his/her institutional knowledge to help the organization. The intern learns a lot staying in a professional environment and enhances his/her skillsets. Apart from enhancing his/her skillsets, an intern can develop self-confidence, learn decision making, understand corporate ethics and work as a team during his/her internship course.

The pre-internship programs are called insight programs in several big organizations and investment banking sectors. NGOs often offer unpaid internship opportunities where the interns need to serve as volunteers.

Students who are completing their final year in an institute do dissertation or research work where they research a particular topic, for an organization. Many organizations also offer internships with a stipend or a fixed amount regularly. 

Several companies offer virtual internships where the work is done through the virtual mode of communication like the internet or phone. 

 Internship definition 

When we ask – “what is internship?” we get several answers, but only a few of them are satisfactory.

An internship is precisely an opportunity to integrate a career-enhancing skillset into institute-based education by taking part in a supervised and planned schedule of work. These internships can involve working part-time, full-time, or freelance. Interns can get a stipend or may have to do it for free. It can be a part of the student's curriculum or voluntary work. It can be a summer internship or a general one. Whatever might be the rules and regulations, these internships introduce the trainee to a new world where they learn the first practical lessons of their career.

Internship Definition by Eminent Authors/experts

Eminent authors and celebrities have given their own opinions on Internship definition:

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

-Steve Jobs

The ideal intern is committed, creative, organized, ambitious, independent, and able to crack a smile, whether meeting a celebrity or folding socks“Steve Jobs”

The ideal intern is committed, creative, organized, ambitious, independent, and able to crack a smile, whether meeting a celebrity or folding socks.

“Emily Weiss”

The distinction between “assistant” and intern” is a simple one: assistants are paid, interns are not. But of course, interns are paid with experience.

“Joyce Carol Oates, Beasts”

Doing an internship abroad is much more hands-on than anything you might learn at university. You get to experience the job, rather than learn about it in the classroom, and you’re presented with real responsibilities.

“Hunter, Music Intern through BUNAC program”

Internships are a very important part of our education program, first and foremost. In setting up professional internships, not only will we be able to offer students a chance to work with industry professionals, but the students also will be able to take the theory they learn in the classroom and put it into practice here, in whichever activity they’re focused.

“Craig Miller”

There is no substitute really for learning about the world of work and being in the world of work. You can do that through internships. You can do it through summer job experiences or even from volunteer jobs in your local community. Strive early to get some kind of practical work experience.

Internship letter

An internship letter from employer is similar to an experience letter and can help the candidate secure a job more easily in the future. A overview of your qualifications and areas of expertise will be included in an internship letter. It will highlight the talents that are essential for the internship. It also aids in making a positive first impression on the employer. In order to be considered for an internship, we must list all of our qualifications in our cover letter. This letter can be mailed or mailed by post.

How to Write an Internship Letter?

Writing an internship letter is quite simple, all you need to do is to stick to a particular business letter writing format and mention everything positive and appreciable about the intern who has worked for your organization. 

An internship letter reflects how you treat your interns and staff, so avoid making any negative comments.

Tips to write internship completion internship letter:

1. Make sure to use the business letter writing style
2. Use proper salutation and choose words carefully
3. Put your name and designation at the end of the letter
4. Do not put contact information at the start
5. Choose words carefully
6. Highlight and mention core competencies of the intern
7. Mention the project s/he was working on
8. Do mention your best intentions while writing the letter
9. Take help from various resources available online
10. Thoroughly proofread the letter- a typo can ruin your organization's image! 

Internship Letter format

The internship letter format is very similar to that of a cover letter. Use proper business letter format and include your contact information, the date, and in the subject mention the specific internship you are applying for. The main aim of the letter should be to try and convince the reader that you will be an asset as an intern and you can make a positive contribution to the company.

The internship letter format must include the following details:

1. The logo of the organization along with the name

2. Letter issuing date 

3. The complete name of the trainee or the intern

4. Period of internship

5. Name of the project the intern or the trainee worked for

6. Job details (roles and responsibilities) of the trainee or the intern

7. Best wishes for the bright career of the intern

8. Project manager's name

9. Sign of the employer and stamp of the organization

Internship letter Format Sample

Additionally, you can prepare a portfolio of your work to showcase, and your curricular activities too! If you can impress the employer, you can bag the internship, and who knows, a full time employment if you are exceptionally well in your internship term!

Remember, an internship can help kickstart your career, so do not rush to get into one, and choose the organization wisely!

When need to write Internship Letter?

The student / Trainees get the internship letter once the finish their internship which helps then getting a good and well paid Job in the industry.  The Internships training program offered by employer are generally is for a fix and short tenure and the internship period  can length from one week and at time it maximize for 12 months.   The collages or the institutes also approach employers for this kind of program and also encourage student to go this kind of program which is also at times a part of their curriculum also.

 Types of Internships 

There are several types of internship opportunities available for the freshers, and few of them are quite lucrative too. Let’s see what the popular types of internship opportunities available are:

• Paid internships

Usually, several reputable organizations and institutes pay a certain fixed amount to the trainees and interns, which is not at par with the employee salaries, but not very less. 

• Unpaid internships and volunteering

Non-profit organizations and certain other companies offer a non-paid internship that helps the students, trainees, and interns accentuate their learning experience and often acquiring a new skillet. 

• Insight programs

Investment banks often offer these internships termed as insight programs.

• Research work

This is essentially a part of any course that involves research about a particular organization or a related topic.

• Summer internships

These internships are provided to the students who have got summer break and want to utilize their summer break’s time. 

Many internships providing organizations charge a certain amount of fee to provide you an internship opportunity in your preferred location. This may also depend on your skills, course of study, qualification, and base. Many organizations would ask you to volunteer, and some may (or may not) provide commuting and lunch allowance as a stipend. Do not expect a salary and benefits like an employee! 

Why Is an Internship Important?

An internship can bring forth your worth and can show the world what you are capable of. It also tells you why your internship is important for your bright future. Listed below are a few points that tell why you would require an internship-

• Books can give you knowledge, but not experience. An internship can give you both.
• With an internship, you don’t have to jump into the professional world without any guidance. You would have experienced and knowledgeable people to guide you and help you out!
• An internship may or may not provide you a lot of money, but you can learn a lot during the training which is beyond your institutional learning.
• You don’t have to take responsibility for any project entirely, and you’ll learn how to work as and in a team.
• An internship can help you in networking and connect with influential people to support and accentuate your career.
• The best point – you can add the experience to your resume with your educational qualification!

So these are the points to make you understand - “why is your internship important!”

What are the Benefits of Doing an Internship?

Internships can benefit an organization or employer, and the trainee in various ways. 

Benefits for the trainees or interns:

• Amplifies the career of the students, trainees, and interns
• Makes them aware of the available opportunities
• Provides an opportunity to take up a job-role in a professional environment
• Interns or trainees can evaluate their field of career 
• They can get a stipend (in some cases)
• They can get connected with people (networking)
• They can learn to deal with the clients

Can discover talents and bring forth their self-confidence

Benefit for the organization or the employer:

• Can identify and evaluate the potential of the intern
• Can get new talents in the organization who can be the future employees
• An employer can gather new ideas from the interns/trainees.
• Interns are easily available, so can be utilized as resources based on requirements
• Employers do not have to pay the interns full salary with other employee benefits (PF, Gratuity, etc.)

Based on these guidelines here are a few templates and sample of internship letter in doc and pdf format which you can use….good luck!

---

---