In the course of your college studies, an internship in your field of interest is important to prepare for full-time employment after graduation. While project work in school is quite helpful in providing you with shared learning experiences, it is also important to develop and apply the concepts you have learned in a professional setting.
The job market in Singapore among graduates is rather competitive so you definitely need some work experience listed in your resume on top of your degree when you go on a job hunt. Fortunately, local polytechnics and universities provide students with a semester of compulsory internship. However, some might wonder, is an internship really necessary to score a job post-graduation? Read on to find out.
Increases Employability
One of the best things about internships is that they increase your employability in the Singapore workforce. Most employers provide a training program aimed at ensuring that interns get sufficient hands-on training at the workplace. The program ensures that the interns not only contribute to the company but also learn from mentors they are attached to and from the experience they gain during their time at the company.
An internship can help you get valuable work experience and advice from professionals who have been in the industry for a long time. The knowledge and skills you acquire during the internship can also make a valuable contribution to your resume or portfolio, and thus will increase your chances of landing your ideal job after graduation.
Offers Real-Life Experience of Working in an Office
Another important aspect of an internship is that it provides you with experience of working in an office or professional setting. The projects you undertake in school can prepare you for the industry that you aspire to join but they do not provide the experience of handling real projects and clients or tackling real problems.
An internship, on the other hand, gives you real-life exposure to working in a professional setting with fellow industry professionals. This way, you will be able to seize the opportunity to apply key concepts that you have learned in school to professional projects.
During the span of your internship, you will also learn how to work with your colleagues and communicate with your superiors by adapting to the professional etiquette and culture of your workplace.
Gives You the Opportunity to Network
Networking opportunities are essential to creating valuable relations in the professional world. Through making these connections, you might just be able to secure a potential sales prospect or get introduced to more individuals who might be able to help you with your career in future.
One of the best ways to get to know more industry professionals organically is through an internship as it gives you the opportunity to work closely with other professionals in your industry, building your network slowly. At your first designation, take the chance to build a connection and create a lasting impression with the people you work with the most.
Helps You to Figure Out What You Like and Dislike About the Job
While internships are mostly advertised to be great experiences, there will be students who themselves disliking their internship due to the company or the mentor that they are attached to. However, this does not mean that the internship is rendered useless as knowing what you dislike is also a crucial factor when it comes to searching for a full-time job.
By having clear criteria about your next job, you will be able to avoid positions or employers who do not align with your skills and interests in the future. Consider the internship as a sneak preview of the industry you are about to join after graduation. The experience you get from the internship will surely be of great help during your post-graduation job hunt in Singapore.
