benefits of the business college internship: a research review

Abstract

The authors explore the research findings regarding the effectiveness of business internships on several issues: enhanced employment opportunities, realistic expectations of interns, satisfaction with the internship experience, internship prerequisites, and internship mentoring. Overall, the internship experience was found to be beneficial.

Experiências de Estágio: Contribuições para a Transição Universidade-Trabalho

“…This study evidenced that some characteristics of the internship experience facilitate exploration, as an environment of cooperation, while others hamper it, such as the absence of activities related to the profession. Therefore, it is important not to consider that the internship alone will promote relevant learning for the construction of professional identity, as this is possible provided that some conditions exist that enhance vocational exploration (Angot et al, 2008;Knouse & Fontenot, 2008).…”

“…Therefore, through exploration, individuals make basic movements for the role transition, such as getting familiar with the work universe. In that sense, the literature has indicated the importance of work experiences for the development of college students' practical competencies, as these prepare them to take part in the job market (Angot et al, 2008;Fior & Mercuri, 2003;Knouse & Fontenot, 2008;Mihail, 2006).…”

“…Internship experiences particularly stand out among relevant activities for professional education and development. These are not only related to higher employability levels among newly graduates, but also serve as an approximation with the reality of the job world, contributing to the development of cross-sectional competencies (that is, not technical, including responsibility, autonomy) and to a more realistic adaptation of students' expectations regarding work (Knouse & Fontenot, 2008;Sleap & Read, 2006).…”

“…Not all internship experiences necessarily contribute to students' professional development though. Some studies show that certain characteristics are important for a positive assessment of internships, such as having clear tasks related to the educational area, valuation and respect for the trainee, varying tasks, challenging activities and feedback from supervisors (Angot et al, 2008;Knouse & Fontenot, 2008;Mihail, 2006). This study was aimed at understanding how extraclass academic experiences, particularly internships, contribute to the development of career adaptability and to the transition between the roles of student and professional in undergraduates.…”

The potential of computer-mediated internships for higher education

“…Degree programs with this focus are unlikely to adequately prepare students for the workplace (Bayerlein, 2015;Coll and Zegwaard, 2006;Fleming, 2008;Jackson et al, 2017), and internship experiences are, regardless of their format, thought to be a suitable way to address this gap (Knouse and Fontenot, 2008).…”