Even before 'Skill India' became a buzzword, the internship culture in India underwent a silent revolution - thanks largely to the startup boom and advent of digital economy. For a student, an internship is no longer a 'good to have' experience. It has become a necessity if one were to stand out from the crowd. It is also becoming their path to financial independence and greater career prospects subsequently.

Driver of the Change

The rise of internships in India coincides well with rise of startups and internet economy. For startups, interns are essentials to build their first teams, validate their ideas, and scale - on a shoestring budget. Unlike big corporate, startups are more approachable, open to people from different academic backgrounds (and not necessarily looking for students only from premier campuses), have small and young teams which make them ideal places for learning, and are flexible with academic schedules of students.

The other key factor has been rising internet penetration which opened doors for virtual or work from campus internships where interns spend couple of hours every day on tasks that can be done remotely such as content writing, design, digital marketing, programming etc., learn new skills, and earn a cool stipend.

And if a poor soul fetching coffee, or someone toiling hard at unpaid labor are the first images that come to your mind when you think of an intern, you are in for a surprise. Barring a few disciplines, almost all the internships now come with a stipend (usually between Rs.5000-15,000 per month) with some companies offering even as high as 30,000/month - which is more than what some graduates would earn in their first job. Interns do real work and get real skills and rewards in return.

So why should a student do an internship?

Other than it being an academic requirement to get your degree (increasingly, colleges now have a six weeks to six months internship as part of the curriculum), the single most important reason why students opt for an

internship these days is because of the learning opportunity it offers.

It is not possible for academia to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies and requirements of workplace. The only way a student, the future worker of this new age economy, can learn the new skills needed to succeed at workplace, is by being a part of it through internships. Not just technical skills but the life skills you learn at an internship such as working in a team, managing time, solving real customer problems, learning to live independently in a new city are things a classroom just cannot teach.

The only way a student, the future worker of this new age economy, can learn the new skills needed to succeed at workplace, is by being a part of it through internships

What to Keep in Mind While Searching for an Internship?

Be prepared. Given the internships are becoming increasingly important for every student, it is natural to expect competition when you apply – a prestigious internship is no different than a coveted seat at a college of your choice. Organisations usually prefer candidates who have done some prior practical work in the domain. It could be in form of class project, assignments, competitions, a hobby project, or prior work experience in form of volunteering or at college events. The key to remember is that listing mere academics in your resume will not fetch desired results – you need to demonstrate that you already have some skills and that the organization would not have to spend lot of time training you.

The 2nd important aspect is to do your research well about an internship before applying. You should be able to make a strong case as to why you are interested in that particular internship or the company, what you already know about it, and how it fits into your future plans. Given your resume is likely to be light on information, your cover letter is your opportunity to impress the recruiter. Tell your story in a way that gives them the confidence that you genuinely want to learn during the internship and would add value to their team (and how) if selected.

Finally, start early and do not give up at first few rejections. Learn from the feedback and make even better next application.

How Can You Help as a Parent or Teacher?

As a teacher, encourage your students to go for internships early on in their lives rather than waiting till the final year or pre-final year. Guide them on the recent trends in industry and help them identify skills and resources that would improve their chances of selection. Review their applications and give them objective feedback. Finally, recognise the success of your students at their internships in front of the entire class – nothing motivates a student more than a peer’s success story.

As a parent, understand that it is natural for your child to be confused about different career choices and let them explore different options– internships are meant exactly for this purpose. Help them learn about professional etiquette and how work life is different from student life based on your own experience. Give them confidence and self- belief, as students may be really nervous since the internship will be their first big step in the real world. And as a parent, your moral support will go long way in making this a smooth transition for them.