Though internships may be paid, many are completed on a volunteer basis, in which the individual provides his or her time in exchange for experience, and/or college credit. These are known as volunteer internships, and there are many different types available, depending on various factors. Some volunteer internships take place during the school year, and may last the length of a semester, or even the entire year, depending on the nature of the internship. Others are not related to the school year, and the length of time will simply be based on the needs of the individual or the company/non-profit organization. Summer internships, as well as internships abroad, are some of the other types.
The nature of the work that an individual performs during volunteer internships will vary based on the purpose of the organization for which he or she is working. Generally, the work performed is entry-level, though some companies may provide additional training to their interns and give them more responsibility. Often, an intern will work directly with other members of the company in order to learn his or her job, or will work in groups with other interns. It is common for an intern to receive regular feedback throughout his or her work, to help ensure she is performing the requested tasks correctly.
Volunteer internships that take place during a semester or college school year are the most common. These are generally also supervised by a faculty advisor, to some extent, to ensure the student is doing the work he or she agreed to. For internships completed when an individual is not in school, which may occur if he or she decides to switch careers at any point in life, the period of time of the internship is agreed upon by all parties involved. Though it may be challenging to work without pay for a while, a person who succeeds at an internship may find that it leads to full-time employment.
Some volunteer internships are held over the summer, and may take place abroad. These can be great opportunities for an individual to travel, work on learning a new language, and do beneficial work in other countries. These types of volunteer internships are also primarily populated by students, but they may be open to people of other ages as well, so it never hurts to check. These frequently involve humanitarian or conservation work, but that is certainly not always the case.
