Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Policy Makers

This guideline provides the policy makers with specific suggestion on how to assess the impact of international and virtual internships. The guideline covers topic such as: creation of an observatory to trace the quality of work based learning approaches; promoting of international and virtual internships.
Table of Contents
4.1 Introduction
4.1.4 The Internship and the Job Market

Internships are becoming very popular because many times, they are “updated” to employment relationships. Young people (students, graduates) are aware that internships are one of the best ways to find a full-time job. According to CareerBuilder.com survey the majority - 59% - of employers who plan to hire interns said they are planning to hire their former interns as employees. For employers, internships are good opportunity to keep costs staff down, and to create group of talents for the future.

The promotion of common projects of schools and business is an important solution for youth unemployment.

Theoretical knowledge provided by schools represent one part of overall knowledge and skills necessary for students to find a job after studies. Including practical training or internship, particularly in VET, students are offered assurance that they will obtain all necessary knowledge and practical skills and abilities for employment at operational and managerial positions.

Internships may be unpaid or low-paid (e.g. small stipend or minimum wage), but they are a way to obtain real work experience during studies, the summers or after graduation. They became more important in a competitive job market, where having experience gives a job applicant an additional advantage. Definitely, in a present times job market, there is competition even for unpaid internships because they are considered as entry to standard paid job. Internships provide an opportunity to young person to observe and try it his potential future job: to see its daily tasks, larger purpose, its challenges and rewards.

Many times, we can see “conflict” between demand of job market and offer created by the schools. Exactly internships can be considered as one of most important tools, how to fill this gap and avoid this permanent conflict.


Online Resource

Door Opener or Waste of Time? The Effects of Student Internships on Labor Market Outcomes
This paper studies the causal effect of student internship experience on labor market choices and wages later in life.

From Internship to Career
Few advices for potential interns – mainly in relation to future job getting.

Internships can open the door to the job market
Server specialised to internships – short article about opening door to job market via internship.

Value of the internship
Story of Lindsey Duncan about education and intership.

Internships are not just for kids
CNN article about looking for job using tool of internship.

Should Your Twentysomething Take An Internship?
Forbes magazine analyses relation of the internship and getting better job.

International internship value
Article presenting AIESEC - In an interview for the TransitionsAbroad.com website and webzine, they explain what AIESEC is and how it can help today's young job seeker.

Internship are not just college kids
Possibilities of internship for graduates - How to find a midlife internship to switch fields and make it work.

3 Ways ‘The Intern’ Gets Older Workers Wrong
Movie “The Intern” commented by real internship organisers.

Other literature
Chen T.L. & Shen C.C. (2012). Today’s intern, tomorrow’s practitioner?—The influence of internship programmes on students’ career development in the Hospitality Industry, Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education 11, 29-40.

Juran J., Godfrey M. & Blanton A. (1999). Managing Human Resources and Quality, McGraw-Hill/Professional Book, Columbus.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.