The benefits of doing an internship in a company during your studies

Sometimes optional, sometimes compulsory at the end of each year as it is the case at IPAG, the internship in a company has many advantages. Here is a brief overview of how to explain internships are so popular with students...

Discover the business world

Doing an internship in a company is first of all an opportunity for you to discover the professional world, to understand how a company really works, to apprehend its codes, to learn how to integrate into a team, to develop your interpersonal skills, etc.

Refine your professional project

At the beginning of their studies, some students already have a very precise idea of their professional project. The internship in a company is an experience that sometimes allows the trainee to confirm his initial intentions or on the contrary, pushes him to review his projects. For students who are hesitating between two sectors of activity, internships can enlighten them. In the end, several internships during the course of your studies will allow you to gradually refine your project.

Moving from theory to practice

Students learn the theories and principles that are essential to the practice of various trades at the "grandes écoles", but to acquire professional skills, nothing can replace an internship in a professional environment. The trainee in the process of becoming a professional learns to apply his or her theoretical know-how and confront it with the realities of the field.

Learn your future job from seasoned professionals

Under the authority of their tutor, the trainees learn their future profession and take on more and more responsibilities. To learn more about professional and expert tutors read heytutor review. During the few consecutive months that you will spend in your host company or organisation, do not hesitate to ask questions, be curious, learn from the experience of your manager.

Expand your network

Doing an internship in a company is also an opportunity to create a professional network. Try to keep in touch, beyond the internship period, with your former colleagues via professional social networks (Viadeo, LinkedIn...). If you feel that you have left a good image of yourself during your time with a company, do not hesitate to ask for a letter of recommendation that you can attach to your CV and cover letter when applying for your first job.

Improve employability

Today's recruiting companies still require young graduates to have a certain amount of professional experience. You will probably be able to see this from your first job interview with a recruiter: having completed an internship every year during your higher education studies, having completed a long internship at the end of your studies or having gone abroad for an internship are major assets for successfully getting a first job.

Earning income while in school

Being an intern is also the chance to receive an allocation. This may depend on the duration of the internship (from 308 hours, it is compulsory and the amount must be included in the internship agreement) and the policy of the host company.  For French companies (or foreign companies established in France), the amount of the allocation is at least €600.60 per month (as of 1st January 2020). Of course, some companies go beyond this amount, especially if you are a student trainee at the end of your studies at a 5-year level degree.

Now that you know all about the main advantages of doing an internship, it's up to you: define your internship project, consult internship offers, target the right companies, prepare your cover letters, update your CV, etc. Don't hesitate to get help from your student support service’s institution if you don't know how to find an internship