Internships and externships are great opportunities for students to gain valuable exposure to their chosen profession.

An internship is known as a short-term work experience offered by companies and other organisations for people- usually students, to get some entry-level exposure to a particular industry or field.

Internships are both learning experiences and work. Interns spend their time working on relevant projects, learning about the field, making industry connections, and emerging both hard and soft skills. At times, internships even lead to full-time job offers.

On the other hand, an externship is more practical, generally takes place over a shorter period of time, and is sometimes similar to a job scrutiny program.

Experts say that externships are an excellent solution for anybody who is interested in following a certain career path but is uncertain about whether or not they are making the right choice.

Externships typically occur at the end of a student’s program of study and are completed during a fixed time period. Some students opt for a part-time externship, while others pursue a full-time program.

While observing professionals at work, learners get to learn more about the job or occupation they are interested in and get a better understanding of the day-to-day activities of professionals in that field. They can also get all of their questions answered and can assess whether it’s the right career path for them.

Since the opportunity is typically very short, students don’t have to perform heavy work, and thus are unpaid. This type of setup can be mutually beneficial for students and employers, according to experts.

Adrian Busingye, the CEO of Crown Agro Initiative-Kacyiru explains that with externships, learners are easily exposed to see if they like a job, industry, or company in the first place.  They also have the ability to have multiple externships to compare companies.

"In some cases, there is a possibility to get an internship or full-time job later on, and most importantly, such experience can be included on their resume,” he states.

He carries on that externships assist learners in gaining in-demand skills, and crafting a strong work ethic but also, are at a great advantage to receive feedback from experienced professionals.

Busingye notes that externships equip students with the mental preparation required to work in a chosen career field. Learners develop both communication skills and hands-on experience but also the confidence needed to perform the job successfully. 

He also notes that for internships, it is a stepping-stone for learners to add opportunities within the same organisation, including a full-time job. This is because they are exposed to meet more people in their professional world with the same interest, hence increasing chances to grow in the profession. 

The CEO also notes that an internship is also aimed at helping learners acquire their abilities and eventually hearten them to have a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, but also push past their comfort zone.

Ian Shyaka, an employee at an IT Firms is of the view that internships can provide one with experience and the skills that can attract employers to notice them and allocate them where they can grow better.

He carries on that internship teaches students to work under pressure, and value the essence of deadlines.

"An internship gives you experience to the challenges of a work environment and having knowledge of these conditions can be useful and can show employers that you are a good fit for the company,” he says.

Shyaka carries on that internships assist learners in gaining new skills, add on their knowledge base yet at the same time attain confidence in their abilities. They also get to practice communication and teamwork skills.

Students get an opportunity to apply some of the ideas learned in school and provide a connection between school and the professional world, and achieve a sense of triumph by contributing to an organisation, he adds.