Intern vs. Internship — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 20, 2024
An intern is a person who undertakes an internship to gain practical experience in a profession; an internship is the program or period of work offering this experience.
Difference Between Intern and Internship
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An intern is an individual, typically a student or recent graduate, who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment. Whereas an internship is the structured work experience offered by organizations, often designed to augment educational or theoretical learning with practical application.
Interns are often involved in various tasks that contribute to their learning and skill development, under the guidance of experienced professionals. On the other hand, internships are the frameworks that define the duration, scope, and objectives of these learning experiences, tailored to the intern's educational requirements and career aspirations.
Interns may receive compensation or academic credit for their work, depending on the internship's structure and the agreements made with the sponsoring organization. Internships, however, can vary widely in terms of compensation, with some offering stipends or salaries, while others may be unpaid but provide valuable industry exposure and experience.
The role of an intern is to actively engage in learning and contributing, often taking on projects or responsibilities that provide insight into a particular career field. In contrast, the role of an internship program is to provide a balanced opportunity where the intern can gain this insight while also contributing to the organization's goals.
While an intern directly benefits from acquiring industry-specific skills and professional networking opportunities, the internship itself benefits the hosting organization by bringing in fresh perspectives and potential talent for future recruitment.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A person who works temporarily, gaining practical experience in a field.
A structured program providing practical experience in a professional field.
Purpose
Personal skill development and career exploration.
Facilitate hands-on training and industry exposure for participants.
Duration
Typically lasts from a few weeks to several months.
Can be designed for various durations, typically aligned with academic calendars.
Compensation
May or may not be paid, depends on the internship terms.
May offer payment, academic credit, or neither, depending on the program’s structure.
Outcome
Gains practical skills, experience, and professional connections.
Provides industry experience and potentially trains future employees.
Compare with Definitions
Intern
A novice in a professional field gaining firsthand experience.
As an intern, he observed surgeries and assisted the medical staff.
Internship
An opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain exposure in their field of interest.
His internship at the law firm confirmed his desire to become a lawyer.
Intern
Someone who temporarily fills a position within a company to learn about the profession.
She was an intern in the marketing department over the summer.
Internship
A structured setup by companies to train and potentially recruit young talent.
The tech startup offers an internship that often leads to full-time employment.
Intern
A position characterized by temporary status aimed at training and career exploration.
He applied for an intern position in environmental science.
Internship
A period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time, often unpaid.
She completed a three-month internship at the graphic design studio.
Intern
A role that provides real-world exposure to career-related experiences.
The intern learned a great deal about financial analysis during her time at the firm.
Internship
A program designed to provide practical work experience in a field relevant to the participant’s studies.
The internship program at the hospital is highly competitive.
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, at a trade or occupation in order to gain work experience.
The intern at the software company contributed to the coding project.
Internship
A professional learning experience that bridges the gap between theoretical studies and practical application.
Her internship involved various projects that complemented her academic coursework in engineering.
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
Internship
An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies.
Intern
Confine (someone) as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons
The family were interned for the duration of the war as enemy aliens
Internship
A student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.
Intern
Serve as an intern.
Internship
A physician who has recently graduated from medical school and is learning medical practice in a hospital under supervision, prior to beginning a residency program.
Intern
A student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.
Internship
One who is interned; an internee.
Intern
A physician who has recently graduated from medical school and is learning medical practice in a hospital under supervision, prior to beginning a residency program.
Internship
To train or serve as an intern.
Intern
One who is interned; an internee.
Internship
To confine, especially in wartime.
Intern
To train or serve as an intern.
Internship
A job taken by a student in order to learn a profession or trade.
Intern
To confine, especially in wartime.
Internship
The state of being an intern; the position of an intern.
Intern
A person who is interned, forcibly or voluntarily.
Internship
The period of time during which a person is an intern; as, she served her internship over the summer.
Intern
A student or recent graduate who works in order to gain experience in their chosen field.
Internship
A program to provide novices in a field with apprenticeship training.
Intern
A medical student or recent graduate working in a hospital as a final part of medical training.
Internship
The period of time during which a novice in a field serves in a subordinate capacity and continues to gain experience; the learning period before one becomes an expert.
Intern
(transitive) To imprison somebody, usually without trial.
The US government interned thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Internship
The position of a medical intern
Intern
To confine or hold (foreign military personnel who stray into the state's territory) within prescribed limits during wartime.
The Swiss government interned the Italian soldiers who had strayed onto Swiss territory.
Intern
To internalize.
Intern
.NET 2003 Developer's Cookbook (page 81)
Intern
(intransitive) To work as an intern. Usually with little or no pay or other legal prerogatives of employment, for the purpose of furthering a program of education.
I'll be interning at Universal Studios this summer.
Intern
(archaic) Internal.
Intern
Internal.
Intern
To put for safe keeping in the interior of a place or country; to confine to one locality; as, to intern troops which have fled for refuge to a neutral country.
Intern
To hold until the end of a war, as enemy citizens in a country at the time of outbreak of hostilities; - an action performed by countries.
Intern
A resident physician in a hospital, especially one who has recently received the Doctorate and is practising under supervision of experienced physicians, as a continuation of the training process; a house physician; also called houseman in Britain.
Intern
A person working as an apprentice to gain experience in an occupation; sometimes the position is paid a salary, and other times it is not; as, a white house intern; an intern in a law firm.
Intern
An advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
Intern
Deprive of freedom;
During WWII, Japanese were interned in camps in the West
Intern
Work as an intern;
The toung doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year
Common Curiosities
What is an internship?
An internship is a program or period where individuals work in temporary positions with an emphasis on gaining specific industry knowledge and skills.
Can anyone be an intern?
Typically, interns are students or recent graduates who are looking to gain relevant skills and experience in their field of study.
What is an intern?
An intern is a person who participates in an internship to gain practical experience in a professional field.
How long does an internship usually last?
The duration of an internship can vary but often aligns with academic semesters, ranging from a few weeks to several months.
Is an intern considered an employee?
Interns are not typically considered employees unless they receive compensation, and even then, their role is primarily educational.
What skills can an intern expect to develop?
Interns can develop a range of skills, including technical expertise, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Do all internships pay?
Not all internships offer monetary compensation; some may provide academic credit or none at all, focusing solely on the experience gained.
What are the benefits of being an intern?
Interns gain hands-on experience, industry insights, and professional networking opportunities, which can be crucial for their career development.
What is the typical workload for an intern?
The workload varies but is generally designed to challenge the intern without overwhelming them, focusing on learning outcomes.
Who offers internships?
Internships are offered by various organizations, including businesses, non-profits, and government agencies, across multiple industries.
Are internships available internationally?
Yes, many organizations offer internships internationally, providing global exposure and experience.
What responsibilities do interns have?
Intern responsibilities vary but generally include tasks and projects that contribute to their learning and the organization’s needs.
Can an internship lead to employment?
Many internships have the potential to lead to full-time employment offers, depending on the intern's performance and the company’s hiring needs.
Do interns receive feedback on their performance?
Yes, feedback is a critical component of an internship, helping interns improve and understand their progress in a professional setting.
How can one find an internship?
Internships can be found through university career services, job posting websites, and professional networks.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
