Internships are now becoming popular among college students who are eager to gain experience in the professional world. According to theconversation.com, based on their level of education during their internship, 88% were students while 12% were high school graduates.
Internships typically last from three to six months, but what if they last up to a year? Is it worth it for final-semester students looking for full-time work?
It is true that internships are to deepen knowledge and skills, college students also choose internships of up to a year for experience and job opportunities. Fear of not being able to work after graduating, experience demands in job vacancies, etc. But such long durations also raise questions about the purpose of internships.
Seeing it in a different perspective, internship can be a disguised as permanent employment.
Companies use internship programs to get cheap labor and under the guise of gaining experience. So they made long durations of internships. But what would be the impact if a 1-year internship became normal?
First, long-term internships can have the potential to delay the start of students’ formal careers. They aim for career ladder, clear employment status and rights, but in reality college students are trapped in a prolonged transition phase. This contributes to a completely unhealthy job market. In the long term, this practice can cause lower starting wages because companies relying on students or recent graduates as interns to fill operational needs without the same compensation and protections as permanent employees.
Then what is the middle ground? When is a 1 year internship considered reasonable?
Long-term internships can be considered appropriate if they are designed with a clear and structured learning framework, supported by mentorship, and regular evaluations.
Internships should be a learning experience, not a statusless work experience.
Where do you think the boundaries are?
