Internships-the word for most is synonymous to a pass-time, a way to achieving degree and a formality. However, for B-school grads that’s not the case.
 

Internships have their benefits, to the intern of course and also to the company offering internship. For companies, especially SMEs and start-ups it’s a great branding exercise and a wonderful way to get cost-effective resources. Similarly, for students, this is an excellent chance to earn some experience, ‘real’ work experience, an exposure to corporate life and most importantly, learn some practical applications to what they’ve learned in academics.
 

This plays an even important role in Indian scenario, when most of our institutions offer rote learning. Unfortunately, many companies nowadays shun from offering internships. Reason the attitude of the interns. Students come with this mind-set that this is not the place where are finally going to be employed. They expect stipends which most companies don’t offer during the internship period. Why can’t they take it like this-they are learning the secrets of the trade which they would otherwise have learned by paying some huge fee to yet another institute. Very few students work with the hope of being retained by the company, hence this reflects in their work from day one.
 

Another big reason, I feel, is managing to get a certificate by making use of influences. So for many students, it’s only a matter of the certificate being delivered to their doorsteps as they had that someone’s influence to earn the internship with relative ease. I think the institutions too are at fault if they don’t have checks in place to confirm whether the student has truly spent those many hours.
 

Guys, with the market still recovering from recession, isn’t this a great way to add value to your CV and step into the corporate world? So why don’t you try some of the internships listed on Collegespeaks? http://www.collegespeaks.com/careers/?cat=4
 

 

Good Luck!!!

Vidya