what is an externship

An externship is a short-term professional learning experience that allows college students to gain work experience while finishing their degree. It is similar to an internship, but instead of completing job tasks, externs shadow professionals to learn more about the field. Externships are usually unpaid experiences and tend to be shorter-term opportunities than internships, typically lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. They are provided by partnerships between educational institutions and employers to give students practical experiences in their field of study. Externships are valuable resources for students who plan to immediately enter the workforce because they can be used on a resume to highlight experience in each area. The experience obtained through externships allows students to apply their coursework learning to real-life settings, and to observe and ask questions within that context. Externships may lead to opportunities after students complete their studies, and they can help pre-graduates get their foot in the door for possible job openings or even make them better candidates for aggressive job markets.