Whether you’re a student or a young professional at the start of your journey toward your dream career, you must know about internships and externships.
These are great opportunities to gain real-world experience, but do you know what makes them different?
In this article, we’ll explore internships and externships, examining their unique benefits and drawbacks and their differences. We’ll also talk about what you can expect from these programs, including payment, employment status, and college credit. Plus, we’ll share some real-life examples of companies that offer these programs. Let’s begin our exploration of externship vs. internship and learn more about the differences between them.
- What Is the Difference Between an Externship and an Internship?
- Distinguishing Between Internships and Externships
- What Is an Internship?
- What Is an Externship?
- Differences in Terms of Payment, Employment, and College Credit
- How Do I Get an Internship?
- How Do I Get an Externship?
What Is the Difference Between an Externship and an Internship?
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s first clarify the basic difference between an externship and an internship. While being valuable ways to gain hands-on experience, they differ in terms of how long they go for, what they focus on, and how they’re organized.
An internship is typically an extended engagement. Most internships usually last from a few months to a year and offer students or recent graduates the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned. The best part is that many internships are paid and advertised publicly, which makes them more accessible to a wider range of people.
On the other hand, an externship is a shorter, more focused learning opportunity. Externships give you a sneak peek into a specific profession, allowing you to get a feel of what it’s like and make better career choices. Some externships come with a paycheck, but others don’t—it all depends on the company or organization. You can find externships through official postings or by reaching out to your personal network.
Distinguishing Between Internships and Externships
🧑🎓 Internships 🎓 Externships A brief or long-term professional learning experience A short-term professional learning opportunity Usually spans 3–4 months. Varies from a single day to several weeks Many internships are paid. Most externships are unpaid. Internship openings are generally publicly announced. Externship opportunities may be formally or informally advertised. Colleges frequently facilitate internships for students. Colleges may link students with externship opportunities. You can include internships in your resume. You can also include externships in your resume. Now that we’ve made the basic distinction, let’s delve deeper into the world of internships.
What Is an Internship?
As we’ve already mentioned, an internship is a great way to learn by gaining useful skills in a specific industry, for example, psychology internships, art internships, architecture internships, or trying a specific job role. The best part is that you acquire experience, meet new people, improve college student resume, and even get paid sometimes! However, it can be tough to land an internship because they’re so popular, and sometimes they’re unpaid. Plus, you might not always get to do exactly what you want, but it’s still a great way to learn and grow in your career.
Internship Responsibilities
- Project work. You might be working on some pretty cool projects related to your field of study or the company’s operations. These can range from research and analysis to hands-on tasks.
- Learning and development. As an intern, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. Make sure to get involved in all the learning opportunities available to you, attend any training sessions that come your way, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your mentors or supervisors whenever you need it.
- Networking. As an intern, you get to attend meetings, work with colleagues, and even join in on networking events.
- Reporting. You’ll give regular updates on your progress, join in on performance evaluations, and receive helpful feedback on your work.
- Teamwork. You’ll also be required to contribute to group projects and participate in team meetings.
What Is an Externship?
Externships are short-term learning experiences that give you a sneak peek into a specific profession or industry. They’re flexible and have great networking potential. You can try them out without committing to anything long-term. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, because they’re short-term, you might not get as much in-depth experience as you would with an internship. Also, some—or most—externships may be unpaid and highly competitive to get into. Besides, while they’re a great addition to your resume, they might not have as much impact as an internship.
Externship Responsibilities
- Observation. If you’re an extern, your main job is to observe and learn from the pros in your field. This means you’ll get to shadow experienced employees and ask them plenty of questions.
- Information collection. You’ll be expected to collect information about the company and the latest industry trends and gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of professionals.
- Networking. While externships are short, you should still aim to build connections with professionals.
- Professionalism. If you’re doing an externship, it’s really important to keep things professional. That means showing up on time and dressing appropriately. It might sound like common sense, but it can make a big difference in how you’re perceived by your colleagues and supervisors.
- Feedback. Talking to professionals you interact with and getting their feedback can really help you make better career decisions.
Differences in Terms of Payment, Employment, and College Credit
🧑🎓 Internship 🧑🎓 Externships 💲 Payment Many internships, particularly those offered by larger companies or organizations, provide compensation to interns, be it an hourly wage, a monthly allowance, or even a full salary package for a longer-term internship. The amount can vary depending on the internship location, industry, and your experience. Generally, technology, finance, and engineering internships are more likely to be paid. Although most externships are unpaid, some may provide a small scholarship or cover expenses like transportation and meals. It’s important to keep in mind that the main focus of externships is to help you learn and grow, rather than to provide financial compensation. Additionally, because externships are typically shorter in duration, it’s less common for them to offer payment. 📜 Employment Status Interns are usually hired on a temporary basis. They are expected to follow the company’s policies and guidelines, including working hours and professional conduct. They may enjoy some corporate perks, such as access to company facilities and training programs, and even qualify for healthcare coverage. Externs are usually not considered employees but rather observers or learners. While you may have limited access to company resources and not receive employment benefits, your main goal is to soak up as much knowledge and experience as possible. 👩🏫College Credit
Internship programs offered by academic institutions allow students to gain experience in their field of study and earn college credit at the same time. To qualify for college credit, students usually need to meet certain requirements, such as completing a certain number of work hours, keeping a reflective journal, and submitting reports or projects related to their internship. Every school has its own policies, and it also depends on the type of externship you’re doing. Some schools offer credit for externships that meet certain educational requirements, while others don’t. It’s always a good idea to check with your school’s career center or academic advisor to see if your externship is eligible for credit. If you’re thinking about getting an internship or an externship, it’s important to understand how they differ in terms of payment, employment status, and college credit. It will help you make an informed decision and get the most out of your experience.
How Do I Get an Internship?
Securing an internship can be competitive. How to get an internship: increase your chances, identify your interests, tailor your resume, research companies aligned with your values and goals or check top internship platforms, craft a compelling cover letter, apply to multiple internships, attend career fairs or virtual events, and follow up after interviews or application submissions.
Internship Examples
Here are three real-world examples of companies offering internships:
📌 Company 💻 Website 🖊️ Description 
Gensler Architecture Internships You can apply for an Architecture Internship at Gensler in Los Angeles, CA. You will work on various design projects with a team of architects and designers. You will also learn about the latest trends and technologies in the field. 
Goldman Sachs Internships The Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Program is a highly competitive internship program in finance. It offers interns the chance to gain insights into the world of investment banking, asset management, and other financial services through training, projects, and networking opportunities. 
Disney Internships Disney offers paid or unpaid opportunities for college students and recent graduates to work at various Disney locations. By becoming an intern, you can gain valuable experience and skills in different fields. Depending on the type of internship, you may be involved in projects related to animation, design, engineering, media, finance, accounting, and more. You may also receive academic credit, housing, and other benefits. How Do I Get an Externship?
While looking for an externship, start by clarifying your career goals. Then, find opportunities by searching online, talking to your university’s career services, and connecting with people in your field. Tailor your messages to each opportunity and attend externship fairs. Prepare for interviews by thinking about what you hope to learn and contribute. Finally, don’t forget to send a thank-you message after your discussions or interviews.
Externship Examples
Here are three real-world examples of companies and programs offering externships:
📌 Company 💻 Website 🖊️ Description 
Mayo Clinic Externships If you’re an audiology student looking for an excellent externship program with tons of experience, you should check out Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Arizona. They offer a one-year program that covers all sorts of audiology topics, from evaluations to hearing aids to research opportunities. The program is perfect for students who want to specialize in adult audiology care. Plus, the program only accepts three students each year, so you’ll get lots of personal attention. The program starts each June. 
The University of Pennsylvania Law School Penn Carey Law’s Externship Program offers a full-time working opportunity in a legal setting of your choice for a semester or summer, with a wide variety of options available, such as government agencies, public interest organizations, courts, and corporate counsel offices. Throughout your externship, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your legal research, writing, advocacy, and problem-solving skills. 
Explore the World of Work (EWoW) Program Through the EWoW program, students are matched with UTD alumni and employers in various careers across all industries and academic disciplines. They’ll have the chance to network with and shadow employers in their desired career field through informational interviews, informative company presentations, and working alongside employees on different projects. You can choose the length and dates of the experience, ranging from three to five days, happening over Spring Break. Externship vs. Internship: Conclusion
If you’re looking to kickstart your career, internships and externships can be super helpful.
They’re both great ways to learn and grow, but they offer slightly different experiences depending on what you’re looking for.
Ultimately, the choice between internships and externships depends on your goals and interests. Both options can really help you bridge the gap between what you learn in school and what you’ll need to know in the real world.
So go out there, explore your options, and have fun learning and growing!
