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How does internships work? Do you get paid? How long do you work for and what do you learn exactly?

Im looking for a way to learn and get paid to save and decide what i want to study for my career path as i get older.

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Dr’s Answer

Internships are like getting a sneak peek into your future career while getting paid (if you're lucky)! Here's how they work:

1. Paid or Unpaid?
Some internships pay, some don’t. Ideally, you want to find a paid one, but don’t be surprised if you start with an unpaid internship to build up experience. Just make sure it’s a valuable one that can teach you a lot. The paid ones often offer a stipend or hourly wage, which is awesome because you can make money while learning. Who doesn't love that?


2. How Long Do You Work?
Internships usually last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Some are part-time (perfect if you’re juggling school or other stuff), and others are full-time. The length depends on the company, the industry, and the specific internship.


3. What Do You Learn?
Internships are all about hands-on learning. You get to work on real projects, collaborate with professionals, and pick up skills you can’t get from textbooks. You'll probably learn how the industry works, how to communicate effectively, and how to tackle real-world problems. It's like a mini job—minus the full-on stress!


4. Tips for Success (and Fun!):

Network, Network, Network: Internships are a goldmine for building connections. Chat with colleagues, join office events, and maybe even attend a few after-work happy hours if they're not too wild.

Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to ask "why?" or "how?"—it shows you're curious and eager to learn. Plus, people love sharing their expertise.

Show Off Your Skills: If you know how to do something (like cracking a joke or solving a tricky problem), let them know! You never know when your unique skill will impress someone.

Have Fun: While you’re learning, make it enjoyable! Internships can be a great way to meet people and discover new interests.




If you’re not sure what you want to study, internships are an excellent way to “test out” a field. It’s like taking a career for a spin before deciding if it’s the one for you.

What's your top interest right now? I can suggest some internship ideas to get you started.
Hope this helps.
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Bright’s Answer

Internships are work experiences that help you gain skills in a particular field. Here's how they generally work:

1. **Paid vs. Unpaid**: Some internships are paid, while others are unpaid. Paid internships often offer a stipend or hourly wage, while unpaid internships may offer other benefits like experience or college credit.

2. **Duration**: Internships can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on the company and the program.

3. **What You Learn**: Interns learn about the day-to-day tasks of a job, develop specific skills, and get hands-on experience. You may work on projects, attend meetings, and interact with professionals in the field.

**Summary**: Internships give you practical work experience and can be paid or unpaid. You’ll work for a few weeks or months and learn job-specific skills to help guide your career decision.
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Sneha’s Answer

Hi Dakota! Internships are temporary work opportunities where you gain practical experience in a field of interest. Some internships are paid, offering a stipend or hourly wage, while others may be unpaid but provide valuable learning experiences. Typically, internships last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, often aligning with academic semesters. During an internship, you'll learn industry-specific skills, work alongside professionals, and get a sense of what a particular career path entails. It's a great way to explore different fields, build your resume, and potentially earn money as you decide on your future career. My internship was in Cybersecurity during a summer (3 months) and paid which helped me gain a lot of hands on experience and a sneak peek into corporate life! Good luck!
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Jesus’s Answer

Hi Dakota,

Here are the answers to your questions from what I've seen, however this may vary from company to company.

How does internships work?
- Companies temporarily hire students so the company can get people help them with the work and students can learn real work stuff.

Do you get paid?
- From what I've seen, yes, most companies pay, usually a really low salary, however they're very flexible with the work schedule because they understand you're still studying and sometimes you need to get time off for school activities.

How long do you work for?
- Usually a semester (6 months) part-time.

What do you learn exactly?
- Usually internships are in your study area, if you're studying Software Engineering, you will probably be participating in a Software Engineering project.

When you graduate from school, I've seen many companies are willing to hire their former interns (if they did a good job).

This is a good opportunity to learn what you will be doing once you graduate and will learn a lot. You should be willing to learn, ask questions and propose new ideas.
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Jennifer’s Answer

Hi Dakota!

Internships are a great way to dip your toes in a particular field or job, especially if you're unsure of what your career looks like. They are usually short-term (for instance, 3 months during summer). Some of them can be paid while others are non-paid internship, but whether they are paid are not, they will other you experience that you cannot get in school. During the interview process, you can ask about compensation as this would be good practice for future interviews.

I would also say that during the internship, make sure you are not just focused on the job but also network as the people you meet will be valuable even if you end up not working in that role or organization anymore.

Good luck!
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Chinyere’s Answer

Hello Dakota!

Great question—internships are an awesome way to learn about different careers while gaining real-world experience. Here’s how they generally work:

1. What Is an Internship?
An internship is a short-term work experience where you get to learn about a job or industry firsthand. You’ll work with professionals, get hands-on tasks, and see what daily life in that career is like.

2. Do You Get Paid?
Some internships are paid, and some aren’t. Paid internships are more common in fields like tech, business, and engineering. In areas like nonprofits or healthcare, unpaid internships might be more common, but they still offer valuable experience. Even if it’s unpaid, it can lead to great opportunities later.

3. How Long Do Internships Last?
- Summer internships: Usually 6–12 weeks.
- During the school year: Part-time, often a few hours after school or on weekends.
- High school internships: Can be shorter, sometimes just a few weeks or a semester.

4. What Do You Learn?
- Job-specific skills: Depending on the field, you might learn technical skills, customer service, lab work, etc.
- Soft skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving—these are useful in any career.
- Networking: You’ll meet professionals who can give you advice, mentorship, and even future job opportunities.
- Personal growth: Internships help you figure out what you enjoy (or don’t), which is super helpful when deciding on a career path.

5. How to Find Internships:
- Talk to your school’s career counselor.
- Check out local businesses, hospitals, or organizations.
- Look online (websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or specific company career pages).

Since you’re looking to learn and save money, focus on paid internships, but don’t overlook unpaid ones that could open doors to future opportunities. Either way, it’s a smart move for your future!

Best wishes!
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