What Is the Meaning of Externship?
- Externships are designed to give the student real life experience in their chosen field. For example, a law student may choose to go on an externship with a practicing lawyer. On the externship, the student would accompany the lawyer during his or her day to get an idea of what that job entails. Some programs at universities, colleges or trade schools will require externships.
- Externships may be quite a bit shorter than internships, though they also can be as long. Generally students do not receive financial compensation or class credit for completing an externship, though some law programs will give students course credit for working as a law clerk, according to the Lectric Law Library. Additionally, some companies may reimburse students for expenses incurred while on their externship, according to the New York Times.
- The main benefit of an externship for the student is the chance to experience the day-to-day life of his chosen profession. This can help a student determine a focus in his career and begin to plan for life after graduation. For example, a medical student who is thinking of becoming an emergency room doctor may decide to change her focus after he experiences the long hours and pressure of the job.
- Though universities and externship providers do not normally give any financial compensation, students can benefit from networking opportunities. During an externship, companies give students the opportunity to shadow several different people. This gives students the chance to display their interest in the field and their ability to contribute to that particular office. Companies generally encourage students on externships to take advantage of these networking opportunities by following up with a thank you email and regular updates.
- One of the reasons companies offer their availability to host students on externships is that it gives them the opportunity to view possible recruits before they graduate. In many cases, if a student impresses an employee he or she is shadowing, the company will offer the student an internship or a full time position in the future. The externship program also gives the company the opportunity to advertise its organization to the next generation of workers.