what is externship

An externship is a short-term professional learning experience that allows college students to gain work experience while finishing their degree. It is an experiential learning opportunity, similar to internships, provided by partnerships between educational institutions and employers to give students practical experiences in their field of study. Unlike internships, externs shadow professionals to learn more about the field and observe and ask questions within that context, rather than completing job tasks. Externships are usually temporary training programs, whether that means individuals shadow someone in a work environment or focus on developing one specific skill. The experience obtained through externships allows students to apply their coursework learning to real-life settings and to become familiar with new professions and job fields. Externships may lead to opportunities after students complete their studies, help pre-graduates get their foot in the door for possible job openings, or even make them better candidates for aggressive internship opportunities. Externships are also a source of networking contacts once a profession is chosen. Successful externships could lead to recruitment possibilities which would be based on the observation of both parties.