How long does internships last

The truth is that there is no straight answer to the question. It depends on a few different factors. Read on to find out how long internships usually last and why the duration of the internship matters. Internships are job training programs that are usually completed in 10 to 12 weeks, or the duration of an academic semester. However, internships can last anywhere from a few weeks to an entire year, depending on the following factors:. Related: Do Interns Get Paid? Career-related experiences go by many names.

In addition to internships, here are some common terms for career-related experiences and their durations:. Related: Externship vs. They may be engaged with different activities the following semester, like a study aboard program, or have applied for and been accepted into a different internship for the following semester.

However, some interns do exceptionally well in their roles. They like their duties and the company and genuinely want to continue staying with the organization and helping it to grow and succeed. Related: How to Accept an Internship Offer. Some of these interns later became entry-level employees in our sales and social media departments! We once had an HR intern who was with us for 3 months and in charge of the recruitment database.

His main job was screening CVs and seeing if applicants were good enough to be sent through to the interviewing stage. As in the above example, we had such a good relationship with our HR intern that we asked him to stay on after the summer throughout the year. So, to sum up, a typical internship will be months, with the possibility of extension for up to a year.

CEO, Amava. Feedback from thousands of our members suggests that internships no longer have a typical length. Instead, the length varies depending upon the purpose.

To introduce a potential new hire to an organization and role could take as little as weeks part-time, as was the case for a former fashion designer who wanted to become a full-time blogger for a media company. Training or educating someone transitioning into a different career or skill set can take 3, 6, or 12 months. If the real purpose is to hire interim support for an organization without making an initial long-term commitment, internships can also continue indefinitely or morph into a semi-permanent full or part-time job.

We saw this with a former health services professional who wanted to explore transitioning into a position with an online care provider. The education and experience were applicable, but the additional skills for working in a virtual environment were new and challenging.

Without question, internships at any age can be a great way to explore new paths, begin to develop a relationship, or provide some additional support for an organization. Just remember that no matter how long the internship, like any other job, the key is to agree on the purpose and set measurable objectives so both you and the intern are aligned throughout the process.

In many states, if internships are unpaid, they are legally required to provide school credit instead. If an internship results in acquiring college credits, it will generally last the length of a semester. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Close Menu Ask A Question. Career Skills. Job Guides. There are a lot of different types of internships that can vary in length and other specifications. If you're looking for an internship, you might wonder how long your internship should be. In this article, we answer some FAQs about how long internships are to help you decide what internship length is best for you. Related: Definitive Guide To Internships. An internship is a temporary work experience intended for those with little experience in the field.

Internships are different from contract or temp work because they are intended to give people experience whereas temp work employs people who may be in between jobs. Some internships are paid, although many offer college credit in lieu of payment. Internships are most common among high school and college students, and other entry-level professionals. Related: How To Find an Internship.

Here are the answers to some FAQs about how long internships should be:. There is no standard length for all internships but there are a few different types of internships that tend to last for a certain amount of time. One of the most common types of internship is a summer internship, which is typically offered to college students or recent graduates. These internships usually last for between 10 and 12 weeks but there may be some variation depending on the specific company.

Other internships tend to last for the duration of a college semester, which is 15 weeks long on average. This is because many internships are created for college students, so dictating the internship length by college semesters is a logical method. These internships typically fall during the fall semester or spring semester, but some may last for the duration of the school year, encompassing both semesters.

In this case, it is common for the first semester of the internship to be unpaid and offer college credit while the second semester is paid. Although these are the most standard types of internships, there are many other internships that can last for any amount of time. Employers can choose any length of time when creating an internship opportunity, and sometimes they may even work with the applicant to determine how long the internship will be.

Internships can be as short as a few days to as long as a year.