Know the Important 5 Reasons to Pursue a University Internship

Making the most of your time at university in Singapore can help you create memorable experiences and forge long-lasting friendships. It can also give you a good head start in your career, especially when you're flourishing in your chosen field of study. Since many of the universities in Singapore are highly recognised and respected institutions, graduating from any one of them can make your resume look good in front of hiring managers. However, if you want your application to stand out from the rest of the candidates, getting into a university internship program will help.

Even though your course or university doesn't require you to take an internship to graduate, an undergraduate internship can greatly benefit you. For one thing, it gives you real-life work experience, so it prepares you for situations and responsibilities you're likely to handle when you start working. It also teaches you valuable life skills, like time management, since you'll be juggling your time between your studies and internship. Apart from these, here are five more reasons why you should consider pursuing a university internship in Singapore.

Improve Your Understanding of Your Goals

Through a university internship, you can learn more about the profession you want to get into. Internships are opportunities for you to apply your knowledge in real-world settings and get a taste of what you could be doing if you pursue a career in your chosen field of specialisation. Knowing what you can expect once you get hired will allow you to easily adjust to your work responsibilities and adapt to the changes in the workplace with no problem.

You can also learn more about yourself while working an internship. It's possible that the experience helps you realise that the path you're taking isn't really for you. This doesn't mean that your efforts in the internship program will go to waste. Rather, it gives you direction and clarity for reaching your goals. For example, you might recognise a gap in your technical knowledge and enrol in SkillsFuture courses  so that you'll have the right skills and be better prepared when you start formal employment.

Gain Some Work and Industry Experience

The main reason why students apply for university internships is to gain work experience. Internship hours count as professional experience, which gives you an advantage over other fresh graduates who don't. Most companies will favor candidates who have undergone internships, as it shows their initiative and indicates that they have already started building their skills compared to others who will need more training.

An internship also gives you the opportunity to be mentored by and work with industry professionals. It allows you to learn outside the classroom from people other than your professors, so you can be exposed to new perspectives and enhance your understanding of what you have learned. You can aslo take assignment help online, Thus, you gain invaluable work experience and knowledge through this program. 

Learn Valuable Workplace Skills

Aside from learning the skills you need to move forward in your career, doing an internship also teaches you the soft skills for navigating the workplace. You'll be working with people from all walks of life, after all, so you need to learn how to collaborate well with your superiors and co-workers. Although you do develop some of your intrapersonal and interpersonal skills at school, internships will hone these skills to better prepare you for a more professional setting. These lessons are every bit as valuable as the technical skills you pick up, and you'll need them for all your future office interactions.

Build a Strong Professional Network

One of the great things about a university internship is that you get to build a professional network early. You can meet people who are active in the industry and work with some of them. You can use this opportunity to forge good relationships and have a reputable resource who can speak to your capabilities. If you're lucky, you might even have the chance to engage with key industry figures. Learning from professionals who are the best in their field is like attending a masterclass, and that connection can lead to even more lucrative career opportunities. That being said, making a good first impression is essential during your internship. When your supervisor and co-workers hold you in high regard, they will be more willing to send you excellent job opportunities or even endorse you for a good position at their company in the future.

Refine Your Resume

Indicating that you have internship experience in your job application makes your resume more attractive, so you have a higher chance of landing the job you want. Instead of merely listing your various activities and accomplishments as a student, you can list your duties as an intern and your learnings from the experience. In some cases, your work supervisor may even be willing to give a character reference, which will significantly increase your desirability as a job candidate.

As a university student, you are expected to take your studies more seriously, as what you learn will have an effect on your ability to secure a good job once you graduate. However, there's more to learning than what you get in the classroom. Doing an internship is a great way to do a practical application of what you've learned and to start building them into bankable skills. Though it can be a challenge to balance your work and studies at the same time, the insights you get and the connections you make during an internship are invaluable. They will make you a more viable candidate when you enter the workforce and provide you with an excellent foundation on which to start building your career.