Internship v/s Graduate Job- Which should you choose

Are you recently graduated from college or about to complete your final year? Ready to take your first step on the career ladder? It’s natural to feel a blend of excitement and apprehension at the thought of taking meaningful action for your career. Applying for your first professional job is a huge deal and shapes your future career choices.

During the job hunt, you may get confused with two job terms:’ Internship’ and ‘Graduate job’. You might wonder what the difference is between the two.

What is an ‘Internship’?

An internship is a form of work experience offered by a firm. The duration is between 6 to 12 months on average. Experts believe it is a highly beneficial career option for fresh graduates with little or no experience. It adds to gaining valuable practical experience to enhance their resume. However, internships are available in various industries, so you have ample options in your hand as a student. After the pandemic, the firms have started offering online internships for students. These internships can be paid internships or online internships with certificates. So, online internships are the best option for students applying outside their country who cannot afford to travel.

In recent times, employers have been hiring candidates with prior internship experience. If you’re wondering why you should opt for an internship, consider the many benefits. Firstly, you will be exposed to trying out your desired career path for several months and getting a brief view of the day-to-day working environment. Also, observe whether it is a suitable long-term option for you or not. Apart from the opportunity to explore your career, the other benefits include:

• Earn valuable work experience in your preferred domain
• Getting a taste of the job and industry.
• Potential to secure a job at the company in the future

What is a ‘Graduate job’?

According to the Office of Statistics, graduate job positions “normally need knowledge and skills developed on a three-year university degree to perform the associated tasks competently.” Graduate jobs are only open to those with a relevant Bachelor’s degree. Unlike internships, positions are typically permanent, but you need to complete a prohibition period during the first few months.

Graduate jobs are unrestricted in almost every industry. It is appropriate for individuals who seek passion and motivation to succeed in a particular niche. There is a misconception between Graduate jobs and Graduate Schemes; hence the primary advantage of a Graduate job is that you are not contractually bound to the company to remain employed by them. In most cases, you are not required to experience a structured training program that the company funds. As a result, you opt for new opportunities whenever you desire.

Conclusion

Career experts have revealed that internships are more profitable for a career than a graduate job. An internship is considered a trial and error. In simple terms, with an internship, you can make a robust decision about whether you want to continue with your chosen career or not. At the same time, graduate jobs are also healthy for your career, but not in long term. The company seeks candidates with grass-root knowledge of the domain and professional experience only gained by undertaking internships.

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