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What does an Internship do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does an Internship do

Interns are trainees who are engaged by a company to work for them for a brief period. Interns usually use this opportunity to gain actual work experience, fulfill university or college requirements, and ensure that they are working towards the right career path for them. They sign on for a fixed amount of time. The responsibilities of interns depend on the company and the department that handles them. They do a variety of tasks that exposes them to the type of work that the company is engaged in and to the different aspects of the professional world.

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Internship responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real internship resumes:

  • Lead enrollment process efficiently through securing proper registration forms, official transcripts, immunization records, and IEP documentation as needed.
  • Manage all company financial transactions through QuickBooks.
  • Design PHP application to automate schedule updating process.
  • Manage a web-base graphical interface that utilize a SQL database to better track fabrication lab operations.
  • Organize online recipe content through the blog, design flyers for it and spread the contest word through twitter and blog.
  • Develop sponsored post strategy for LinkedIn and Facebook.
  • Market survey through Facebook and twitter to collect enough responses to create statistically significant results.
  • Assist in the redesign of Facebook and Instagram by researching and creating a visually appealing and informative format/design
  • Utilize programming skills in python.
  • Apply CPT, ICD-9 and modifiers following coding guidelines.
  • Conduct stress tests using electrocardiograph (EKG) machines.
  • Maintain accounting records using QuickBooks and process tax returns.
  • Understand and monitor EKG's and normal and abnormalities with rhythms.
  • Maintain, clean, organize and order CPR manikins and equipment.
  • Top intern honors at corporate fitness facilities locate at Google and LinkedIn headquarters.

Internship skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Interns are proficient in PowerPoint, Financial Statements, and C++. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.

We break down the percentage of Interns that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PowerPoint, 10%

    Prepared PowerPoint presentations for meetings, documents and handled customers bank accounts and occasionally served as customer representative.

  • Financial Statements, 6%

    Provided expert oversight in analyzing clients' financial statements and credit history while communicating with auditors to assess clients' collateral.

  • C++, 5%

    Designed and authored an optimization software function in C++, furthering the integration of an algorithm developed by laboratory scientists.

  • Mental Health, 5%

    Conducted individual psychotherapy at an outpatient community mental health clinic with patients who presented with a broad spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses

  • Data Analysis, 4%

    Participated in software testing, data analysis, Microsoft Excel manipulation, technology development and implementation, network and software support.

  • Facebook, 4%

    Worked on the official company page on Facebook to facilitate interaction with customers

Common skills that an internship uses to do their job include "powerpoint," "financial statements," and "c++." You can find details on the most important internship responsibilities below.

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for an internship to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "general office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public." Additionally, an internship resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "integrated senior hr input to create model of functional roles and designed related communication strategy for hr employees and internal customers/clients. "

Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling internship duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "general office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills." According to an internship resume, here's how interns can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "worked at the pro se waiver divorce docket in oklahoma city and prepared memos detailing legal research in various topics. "

Organizational skills. interns are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to internship responsibilities, because "general office clerks file and retrieve records." An internship resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "staff recruitment & retention employee relations hr program/project management orientation & on-boarding training & development performance management organizational development safety management"

All internship skills

The three companies that hire the most internships are:

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Compare different interns

Internship vs. Office specialist

An office specialist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the organization's daily operations. Office specialists must be highly organizational, as well as having excellent time-management skills to handle work units. They have duties including data entry procedures, greeting visitors, responding to customers' inquiries through phone calls and e-mails, and filing and sorting documents. Office specialists are responsible for creating meeting reports, scheduling appointments, evaluating financial statements, coordinating with other staff for event planning, and assisting the senior management with complex functions.

The annual salary of office specialists is $1,777 lower than the average salary of interns.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both internship and office specialist positions are skilled in powerpoint, front desk, and hr.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between interns and office specialist. For instance, internship responsibilities require skills such as "financial statements," "c++," "mental health," and "data analysis." Whereas a office specialist is skilled in "customer service," "data entry," "patients," and "office equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Office specialists earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,752. On the other hand, interns are paid more in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $36,977.The education levels that office specialists earn slightly differ from interns. In particular, office specialists are 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an internship. Additionally, they're 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Internship vs. Office worker

An office worker is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of the business. Office workers assist in receiving calls to respond to the clients' inquiries and concerns, as well as welcoming visitors, verifying their appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs. They also do data processing, sorting mail, and filing documents for easy retrieval and reference, especially during meetings and company activities.

On average, office workers earn a $5,749 higher salary than interns a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Interns and office workers both require similar skills like "powerpoint," "front desk," and "windows" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that internship responsibilities requires skills like "financial statements," "c++," "mental health," and "data analysis." But an office worker might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "data entry," "payroll," "customer service," and "telephone calls."

Office workers may earn a higher salary than interns, but office workers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $40,267. On the other hand, interns receive higher pay in the telecommunication industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,977.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Office workers tend to reach similar levels of education than interns. In fact, they're 4.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Internship vs. Office clerk

Office clerks are administrative employees who handle clerical activities for the organization. They are in charge of managing company records, organizing and storing documents, filing and sorting hard copies of documents, and liaising with other departments or external partners. They are also in charge of handling and scheduling meetings and appointments, managing the reservation of office meeting rooms, and manning telephone lines. Office clerks may also be in charge of ordering office supplies, preparing purchase requisitions for office needs, sending out and receiving official company documents, and other correspondences.

On average, office clerks earn lower salaries than interns, with a $4,327 difference per year.By looking over several interns and office clerks resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "powerpoint," "front desk," and "hr." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, interns are more likely to have skills like "financial statements," "c++," "mental health," and "data analysis." But a office clerk is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "data entry," "telephone calls," and "payroll."

Office clerks earn the best pay in the transportation industry, where they command an average salary of $31,504. Interns earn the highest pay from the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $36,977.Most office clerks achieve a lower degree level compared to interns. For example, they're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Internship vs. Office administrator

Office administrators are employees who ensure that the office is running in tip-top shape. They manage the administrative needs of the office. They answer calls directed to the official company phone, manage the inventory of supplies, take charge or purchase requisitions for needed supplies, and ensure the office equipment and fixtures are taken care of. Office administrators also manage correspondences, official memoranda, and other official company documents. They also keep track of files and records to ensure that these are properly organized. At times, office administrators also take charge of welcoming guests and accompanying them to their respective meetings.

Office administrators average a higher salary than the annual salary of interns. The difference is about $2,169 per year.While both interns and office administrators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like powerpoint, financial statements, and facebook, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "c++," "mental health," "data analysis," and "r" are skills that commonly show up on internship resumes. On the other hand, office administrators use skills like customer service, patients, data entry, and office equipment on their resumes.In general, office administrators earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $39,681. The highest-paying industry for an internship is the telecommunication industry.In general, office administrators hold similar degree levels compared to interns. Office administrators are 3.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of internship

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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