Internship VS Externship: What’s the difference? Which one will prepare me for my dream job?

If you’ve been wondering about what the difference really is between an internship VS externship, you’re not alone.

We’re going to walk through the ins and outs of both, so you know everything you need to know.

Hopefully, by the end you’ll have the information you need to make the best decision for you, and get you one step closer to your dream job.

What’s an internship?

An internship is defined as a professional learning opportunity that offers practical and meaningful experience related to a student’s field or industry. They are typically highly structured and based around a specific project or outcome the intern is working to achieve.

Oftentimes, you can get course credit for completing an internship. These can be either paid or unpaid. 

Internships can range from one academic term long, to several months over the summer. Internships also usually have a more formal application process, and interviews before you secure the position.

This experience is similar to what you would go through seeking a full time job.

With that, internships can sometimes convert to full-time job offers. If this is something you’re interested in, make sure to ask in the interview process if they’re looking to convert to full time employment in the future. 

So... then what’s an externship?

An externship is also a professional learning experience, but usually takes place during the school year and comes about from existing connections in your network. They typically involve shadowing another employee and working on many small projects. They are also typically unpaid. 

The main difference is that an externship is a less structured, more informal experience. While you are still getting a professional learning experience, they’re more observational. 

For example, you might be sitting in on meetings, or attending conferences, but you won’t be presenting at those events the way you might in an internship.

You could get externship experience from doing something as simple as reaching out to a family friend, and asking if you can shadow them for a week to see what it’s like to work in their industry!

These typically aren’t experiences you’ll see job postings for since they’re not as hands-on.

What are the benefits of an internship VS externship?

To sum it up, when we analyze internship VS externship, externships are shorter, more observational, and a less formal application process. They also require less commitment in general. They could range from one week to several months, depending on what you want to do.

That said, it doesn't take away from the integrity of your experience. You just aren’t as locked in on one industry or position as you would be in an internship. 

Internships can be paid, lead to a full time job, and potentially even count for course credit. But, that also means you have to be a little more committed. It also means it can be a stronger resume builder. 

The bottom line is internships are more hands on, working with professionals while externships are watching professionals do their own work. 

Really, when it comes to deciphering the main benefit of an internship vs externship for you, you have to think about what you want to get from the experience as an individual. What would real-world experience mean for you? 

Which one will prepare me for my dream job?

Still deciding between internship VS externship? Both are great opportunities to gain experience professionally and grow your network. 

However, if you’re less sure about what field you want to go into, an externship may be a better starting point for you. That way, if you don’t like it, you have time to explore other options potentially even in that same academic term or year.

It might sound scary, but the only way to know is if you put yourself out there and try.

If you know a company or field you think you want to go into, an internship and more structured and formal experience might be a better fit for you.

This experience can show you can commit to long projects, prove your skills in the area, and give you great content for your resume. 

So when thinking about doing an internship VS externship, don’t be afraid to give one, or both of them a chance!

✍️ Written by Emma Wihtol