The job market is becoming increasingly competitive, with many university students all competing for the same types of jobs. For this reason, the application of knowledge learnt at university into real life situations is supremely important when it comes to finding a job after graduation.
IT internships are programs in which students are provided with practical and formal experience in their chosen field of work. The most important thing about IT internships is the integration of classroom knowledge into practical application in which they gain real-world work skills that will benefit them in the future in their careers and in the forming of their careers. They bring a wealth of benefits for students currently completing their degree and also post-graduation when seeking a career.
It is obvious to see the general benefits of IT internships for those currently studying an IT or computer science degree. However, there are more lesser known reasons as to why IT internships are important for students.
Application of classroom knowledge into the real world
IT internships are a good way to apply the knowledge you learn in the classroom to real-world applications. Learning to code is a more practical approach in universities, but being able to code something when given a specific task is something that you will learn in IT internships.
Furthermore, it teaches you how companies operate in terms of different departments interacting with each other to get something done. This can include the use of whitespaces and comments to help other developers to understand your code. These are important skills to know as you are usually working in a team and not on your own, and you need to know how to work well together. Moreover, it gives you an appreciation of what would be expected of you in your field and how a corporation operates to get things done and how you would fit into the business operation.
Gain experience and increase your marketability
IT internships allow you to gain real-world experience with different applications of your classroom knowledge. This experience can show that you know what you are doing and how to the professional environment in that industry works. Moreover, working for a big and well-known company can show that they considered you good enough to work for them which looks very good on a resume. This experience thereby will increase your marketability as you are able to prove your experience through your IT internships undertaken at companies that are well-known and also show that you can do the work in a professional environment. It proves to potential employers that you are capable and have done this before.
Networking
IT internships allow you to meet other professionals who work in your desired field, and you are able to connect with them. Furthermore, you can prove your work to them and this will show them that you are a capable developer/engineer. The result of networking is more opportunities that may arise as a result of career growth and exploration. This could also mean that you may have a job after graduation. Networking is often thought to be the most important thing when it comes to finding a job, as it is not what you know but who you know.
In summary, IT internships are very important as they allow you to gain real-world experience and apply your classroom knowledge into real-world applications. They also provide you with the knowledge of how corporate environments work in your field and give networking opportunities which can amount to career growth and career exploration. Therefore, IT internships have many benefits and should be sought after by all tech students.