What Is An Internship? How To Manage The Stress Of This Work Experience In University

For college students and job seekers, internship programs can offer an opportunity to explore different career paths and build relevant skills before committing to full-time employment. Whether paid or unpaid, in-person or virtual, internships can provide hands-on learning that may enhance a resume and increase employability. Understanding the types of internships available and their benefits may be helpful for students. 

In addition, while internships offer many benefits, they can also be stressful due to new responsibilities, workplace expectations, and balancing other commitments. Implementing stress management and anxiety reduction techniques may help improve a person’s experience while they complete an internship. Below, we’ll examine different types of internships and their benefits and explore strategies to reduce internship-related anxiety and stress. 

What is an internship? 

An internship is a temporary work experience designed to provide students, recent graduates, or career changers with practical exposure to a specific industry or profession. Internships can be an opportunity to apply knowledge or skills and gain insight related to a particular field in a real-world setting. In addition to serving as a career exploration tool, individuals may also use internships to expand professional networks and connect with industry experts.

Prospective interns may find internships by connecting with a future career center at a college or attending career fairs. It may be helpful to work with a career counselor to explore a variety of unpaid and paid internships. Understanding the type of internships available and the potential benefits and drawbacks of each can help a person make an informed decision before moving forward with an internship application.

Types of internships through an employer or university

Internships can commonly be found in career fields such as business, healthcare, technology, media, government, and nonprofits. Within these fields, the structure, duration, and expectations of an internship may vary widely. Before applying, it may be helpful to understand the options available to prospective interns as well as potential end goals of each internship program. 

What is an internship? Exploring a paid vs. an unpaid learning experience

An internship may be paid or unpaid, depending on the organization offering it and its key work expectations. Many colleges and companies offer unpaid internships as an opportunity for unpaid interns to connect with professionals in a particular field and network with a community of experts. Other internships may offer financial compensation while providing interns with on-the-job training. These internships may be full or part-time, lasting anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and they may take place in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format.

Internships through an employer vs. a university

For college students, internships may sometimes be offered directly through their university. These internships may be structured as unpaid, cooperative education opportunities in which student interns earn academic credit rather than a paycheck. University- and employer-sponsored internships alike may be stepping stones to full-time employment and can be an effective way for an intern to learn while also proving that they have the skills to perform a job. 

Potential benefits of getting work experience through an internship

Getting work experience through an internship can have many potential benefits that may vary depending on the type of internship. For individuals considering different prospective positions, some important considerations for their choice may include opportunities for skill development and for networking. Some of the possible benefits of internships include gaining professional work experience, developing helpful skills, exploring different careers, and enhancing one’s resume.  

Develop helpful skills

During an internship, interns may be asked to work alongside industry experts who can teach them the skills needed to be successful in a particular career. These may be both technical skills related to a particular job and soft skills such as improving communication and learning to work in a team. Interns may sometimes be paired with a mentor who can identify areas for growth while helping them develop skills. 

Explore different careers

Committing to a career full time before understanding the day-to-day can be daunting. Internships can give individuals interested in learning more about a particular career a chance to experience the day-to-day before committing. For students, summer internships can give them an opportunity to explore different careers each year before graduation. 

Gain professional work experience

One of the main benefits of completing an internship is typically that a person can gain professional work experience. This may be especially important for college students or other individuals who are just starting their careers. Hands-on experiences can be a way for a person to decide whether a certain career field is really for them before committing to it full-time. For careers that require experience before hiring, an internship can help fulfill this requirement.  

Enhance your resume and expand your network

Many career fields may require previous experience working in a certain area before getting hired, which can make it challenging to get a foot in the door. Internships often do not come with a high prior experience requirement, which can make them a valuable tool for building or enhancing a resume. Outside of resume building, internships may also give individuals a chance to network with experts in the industry, which may help them get a job later on.

Stress and anxiety related to the learning experience of internships

Although there are many potential benefits related to internships, they can also be a source of stress and anxiety—especially if an internship is part of a graduation requirement. For some individuals, an internship may be their first time working in a professional environment, which can also cause stress related to meeting expectations. In addition, interns may feel pressure to manage their time and their workload, since an internship may be added on to their regular schoolwork and any other paid employment.

Some stress can be a normal part of life; however, chronic stress can significantly impact a person’s mental and physical health and daily functioning. Untreated stress may cause emotional and mental health impacts, such as irritability and mood swings. Anxiety and stress may also be linked to social withdrawal in some cases, which could contribute to depression and other health effects. Physically, stress can increase heart rate and may raise a person’s blood pressure. It may also cause muscle pain or muscle tension and can make it harder to get good sleep. Over the long term, a person experiencing chronic stress can be at higher risk for cardiovascular conditions and other health impacts.

Managing stress while in an internship

For individuals starting an internship, it can be worth considering strategies and lifestyle changes that may help them manage stress. First, it may be helpful for interns to communicate openly and honestly about their needs with their supervisor. A supervisor may be able to adjust a schedule or provide advice related to the job that might lower stress. Additionally, a person may find it useful to engage in mindfulness strategies, such as deep breathing or journaling to track emotions. These types of techniques may help keep one’s causes of stress in perspective, reframe negative thought patterns, and feel more centered.

It may also be helpful for a person to create habits or implement lifestyle changes to reduce stress when starting an internship. For example, you might start a daily exercise routine or increase general physical activity, since research suggests that exercise may be linked to reduced stress and improved sleep. Getting regular social interaction, staying hydrated, and eating nutrient-rich foods as often as possible can also help improve mood and increase stress resilience.

Connecting with a mental health professional

During any period of transition—including when starting a new job or internship—it may be helpful to connect with a mental health professional. A therapist can work with an individual who is a new intern to help them develop strategies to reduce negative mental health impacts while improving self-esteem and confidence. 

The option of online therapy for busy students or professionals

Attending in-person therapy sessions can sometimes be challenging, however, especially for busy college students. Online therapy can offer more flexibility, because sessions can occur remotely from anywhere you have a personal device and internet connection. This may also add flexibility in finding the right therapist for you because, with online therapy, your therapist does not need to be local to you. 

Online therapy techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can often be effective when treating anxiety and stress, according to research. Using online CBT, a therapist can help a person identify and reframe negative thought patterns to improve mental health.