One often hears about internships as good ways to receive valuable on the job training.  Most college degree programs have internship programs available to students.  So just what is an intern?

An intern can be defined as a person working in a temporary position that emphasizes on-the-job training.  Internships are generally unpaid positions, however there are rare paid internships available.

Internships, as supplements to a 4-year college degree can be very advantageous.  Internships allow students the chance to step out of the classroom and to work in the real world environment of their chosen field.  Internships can be particularly beneficial to those studying to work in the sphere of media.

Broadcast internships for radio and television; give students the chance to gain a level of comfort while working in the atmosphere of an actual TV or radio station.  Production internships, for music or film, similarly offer students the chance to learn their way around a film production house or recording studio.

However even with all their purported benefits, internships have certain limitations.  Apprenticeship, or mentoring programs, such as those available from Entertainment Connection, offer many of the same benefits of an internship and even hold a few advantages over them.

So what is an intern as opposed to an apprentice?  In mentoring programs or apprenticeships, one works in a similar manner to the way one does in an internship.  However many internships basically amount to an exchange of free labor for college credit.

In mentoring programs, participants get valuable, first hand experience in specific areas of their chosen profession.

Internships are also limited in number and available only to college students.  Mentoring programs however, are available to anyone of any age.  And in mentoring programs, unlike in many internships, one is able to set one’s own hours.  This makes mentoring programs an ideal complement for those who are enrolled in a college, or for those who must work a full time job while pursuing their ultimate career goals.

Mentoring programs are particularly beneficial to those pursuing a career in the media.  Unlike other fields, degrees in media programs often hold very little water when it comes to actually getting a job.  In many media professions it is as much about whom you know as it is what you know.

Mentoring programs, like internships, allow participants to establish the contacts and connections one needs to embark upon a career in the media.  And unlike most internships, mentoring programs are geared specifically toward being able to make these contacts.

So just what is an intern?  In internship is a good option for many, however not everyone wants to or can be an intern.  Mentoring programs on the other hand are open to all.

Related posts:

1. Intern vs. Apprentice: What’s the Difference?
2. What is a Mentor?
3. What is Hands-on Learning?
4. What is an Intern?
5. What is an Apprentice?