HR internships present a number of opportunities and benefits to aspiring professionals, especially university students. HR internships are made up of the process of working at a company for a temporary period of time (usually a short period) in order to gain a feel for the marketplace, gain experience in your chosen field, gain qualification to put onto a resume and to build connections. Studying theoretical notions in a classroom is one thing that is important, however, what is more important is being able to apply these notions in a practical situation and environment. Not everything can be taught in a classroom, and it is important for any aspiring professionals to enter these situations to get a feel for how the corporate world really works surrounding their chosen degree. It is important to consider experience when you are a university student and an aspiring professional in this field.
Here are 3 reasons why HR internships can be incredibly useful to aspiring professionals.
Gain work experience
HR internships are essential for gaining some form of experience. Experience is everything when looking to find a job, as the employer will feel much more at ease knowing that you know what you are doing due to previous experience. This is especially so in the business industry and this specific field, as you need to be able to talk to a lot of different people and have good communication and social skills to excel in the job. Having HR internships under your belt can help to prove to employers that you can perform well and will help to propel the progress of the company. It also shows them that you have initiative, as you went out and sought out knowledge and experience through your own actions, showing commitment to the job and further ‘determination’.
Network with professionals in the industry
Networking with professionals in the industry is another benefit of doing HR internships. Networking is a great way to grow your professional circle, and in doing so, you create more opportunities for yourself in the future. For example, if you are looking for HR internships, you may have met with a professional in the past who you can message or meet, and if they like you they may offer you an opportunity or pass you on to someone who has jobs available. This is consistent throughout your entire career, and by networking you will be able to create opportunities to further your career in the form of new job opportunities and subsequently, pay rises.
Develop your skills
Learning theoretical skills in a classroom is one thing but applying it to a practical situation is another thing. Doing HR internships helps to develop your skills through work experience and by experiencing how an office really works. When in this field, you will need to talk to people, talk to the whole office about issues and take care of any issues which may arise within the work environment. While some skills can be learned in a classroom, communication and social skills are especially important and this can only be learned through experience. HR internships serve the purpose of developing your skills not only by applying your theoretical knowledge to pragmatic situations, but also by learning new ones that you can only learn at a workplace.
In summary, HR internships bring many benefits to the table. These include gaining work experience, networking with professionals in the industry and developing new skills which can only be mastered in a work environment. HR internships are crucial to your career and should be considered.