Advantages & Disadvantages of Internships

Companies and interns alike take a risk when they enter into an internship agreement. The company's return on investment in the next generation of staff might fall short if no quality interns enter the program. An intern might also have his high hopes of getting involved in the important issues facing his chosen industry dashed by the list of basic tasks he's given. But when it works, an internship can be a worthy experience for everyone involved.

Experience

Interns can learn about their chosen field of work and gain hands-on experience. Companies might task interns with daily activities such as photocopying and getting coffee; they might also help staff prepare for client meetings and do relevant research. Proactive interns can learn more during their time with the company and although a big-name firm might look impressive, a business with a small workforce might let interns contribute more substantively. From the company's perspective, an intern might improve work flow by taking on tasks that would otherwise distract employees from profit-making or client-driven activities.

Contacts

Interns gain valuable contacts both within the company and through the company's outside linkages. These will become references for future positions and people to meet for informational interviews and job leads. Over the course of a career, employees forge workplace bonds that trace back to their internship days. The company can influence the next generation of the industry's workers by leaving a positive impression with an intern, and a savvy intern will know to keep bridges intact by making the most of the opportunity.

Company Development and Compensation

An influx of young, enthusiastic talent can boost company spirit and commitment to its objectives. Companies benefit from this energy and can scope out possible future employees. A formalized internship program, however, can be time-consuming to establish and maintain; one or several permanent staff members will have to take on the task of hiring and guiding the interns. What is sometimes thought of as free labor might actually cost the company in compensation; a 2010 article in Inc. magazine reported that unpaid internships are legal only under strict criteria. While the prospect of pay is a good one for interns, it may limit the experience available in unpaid circumstances since the company is required to receive no advantage whatsoever from the labor of an unpaid intern.

Flexibility

Interns benefit from their status by holding often flexible hours and schedules for task completion. Unpaid interns might use this flexibility to get a part-time job during their tenure. Flexibility, however, can also apply to specific job duties, which might lead to a disappointing internship experience. The contact with the company's core operations, as promised in the interview, might not materialize. Although an intern might wish to be proactive and get involved in more substantive projects, those opportunities might not be available to interns.

References

• "Inc." Magazine; Watch Out: That Unpaid Intern Could Cost You; Courtney Rubin; April 2010
• "Inc." Magazine; How to Land a Cool Internship; Alexandra Zendrian; February 2008
• "Entrepreneur" Magazine; Internships: A Valuable A Valuable Recruitment Tool; December 1999
• University of California at Berkeley Career Center; The Pros and Cons of Unpaid Internships; February 2005