WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS?
After passing out with flying colours from a premier institute, every student wants a job that pays well. However, to impress the recruiters you need to have something extra in your CV. That extra is your experience you have gained in your college life. Having experience implies that you have knowledge about the field and is suitable for working in a corporate environment. Practical experience acts as the first step in getting a job. Therefore, it is important to invest your time gaining a corporate perspective.
The obvious next question you will have in your mind is - so, how do I get practical experience? Well, there are several ways of doing so. Indulge yourself in coaching and orientation offered by the companies. Further, you could do internships and apprenticeships with renowned organizations.
Although internships and apprenticeships may sound synonymous, they are not. These two are completely different. Let's explore more about them!
What is apprenticeship and internship? In our country, many leading companies offer entry level programs to the enthusiastic students who want to gain industry-oriented exposure. In these programmes candidates are given training and mentoring to develop a certain skill. These are known as apprenticeships and internships.
Even if there is a very fine line between apprenticeships and internships, they are distinguishable.
An apprenticeship is a training program conducted by the organization to train the apprentices. Mentors closely work with the trainees to give them hands-on experience about all the skills that are required for that organization to grow.
On the other hand, in internships candidates learn skills and gain work experience that is required in a particular field or job.
Let's us get deeper into the differences between the two:
1. The availability People usually are not aware of apprenticeships. The reason behind this may be the availability of apprenticeships in our country. Apprenticeships are generally meant to learn a particular job. Apprenticeships are mostly geared towards the engineering and construction field. You can find apprenticeships in fields like carpentry, plumbing, electrical and telecommunications.
On the other hand, the popularity of internships is much higher. Moreover, they are readily available to students who want to work with a company. Often, the internships are found to be generalized rather than focusing on a particular trade.
2. The duration The major difference between internships and apprenticeships is the time duration. Most of the internships span over 6 - 12 months. Students usually get an internship over summer vacation or a semester and then move on to another.
However, that is not the case with apprenticeships. Apprenticeships require a long term commitment. Additionally, you are expected to be a full-time apprentice.
Internship periods are thus shorter when compared to apprenticeships. Also, unlike internships, apprenticeships have classroom instruction attached. At the end, while interns get work experience, apprentices gain more than just work experience.
3. Pay Scale The best thing about apprenticeships is that you get paid while you learn. Obviously, you are not getting a six figure salary, but it is much more than an internship. Not all the internships are paid. Even if they are paid, you will get a small stipend and certificates.
4. The real experience In internships, you get attached with a company and see its functioning and working. Now, for example, if you are a marketing intern, you will get to know how a marketing department works and how things function. But, you won't be responsible for creating a marketing campaign by yourself.
On the other hand, apprenticeships give you a real experience of working. You will get to know all about your profession by working in it. Basically, apprenticeships give you a trailer of the work you're going to do for the rest of life.
Although internships are a great way to boost up your CV and make yourself impressive in front of recruiters, interns don't get classroom training.
While, in apprenticeships you get classroom training, brief guidance about the profession and money.
5. The End Result Many times, interns think that they are going to get a full-time paid employer offer at the end of the internship. Even if it is true for some of the cases, getting a job after an internship is not true all the time.
However, an apprentice can expect a job after completing his apprenticeship. In an apprenticeship, the company is investing in you by training you. So, apprentices are guaranteed a good paying job after the completion of the program.
“All the best!!”
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