Navigating Career Paths: A Clear Guide to Apprenticeship vs Internship

A major paradox in landing your first job is that entry-level positions often require experience. If you’re in college, have a recent college graduate, or are looking to switch careers, you should consider an internship or apprenticeship. You might think of these two options as interchangeable, but they’re quite different.

What are the differences between an Apprenticeship and an Internship?

What Internships Are Like?

Internships are the most common way to gain experience within an industry. College students often hear about them from peers and professors, and job sites like Cake, LinkedIn, and Indeed frequently list opportunities as "internships."

Internships typically involve working for a company for three to four months. Many students complete an internship over the summer, but you can also undertake one during a semester. As an intern, you'll be taught how to perform basic tasks, and you'll often work on a small project.

Internships are small investments for companies, so while you do learn from them, the experience isn’t intensive. You'll still need to develop many of your skills on your own.

Interns don't require any special licenses or recognition at the end of their internship. You may receive a work reference from your advisor, but you won't be considered a credentialed worker.

What Apprenticeships Are Like?

Apprenticeships typically last 4-5 years. By the end of an apprenticeship, you’ll be experienced in your field and ready to contribute to a company immediately.

Due to the investment a company makes in its apprentices, the company that trained you will likely want to hire you at the end of your apprenticeship. Landing an apprenticeship is a direct path to full employment.

Apprenticeships are focused on shaping you into a productive worker. As an apprentice, you’ll receive classroom instruction and hands-on experience. You’ll likely work closely with a mentor, learning your craft from someone more experienced.

After completing an apprenticeship, many individuals become nationally accredited within their field.

Apprenticeships are harder to find than internships, but they offer more security. Most apprentices receive a salary, meaning they’ve already started their desired career path.

The Importance of Internship and Apprenticeship Programs

One of the biggest mistakes that college students make is treating college like High School. Many college students have the mindset of thinking that they’ll only go to class and get good grades, and the rest will figure themselves out. However, college should be used to build up your resume, portfolio, and skills.

Both internships and apprenticeships give you experience. For those without any work experience, you’ll quickly learn the difference between doing class work and doing work in an office environment.

You’ll also grow and mature through your internship and apprenticeship. In an apprenticeship program and internship program, you’ll witness things like comrades, mentorship, politics, productivity, and conduct.

When in a proper work environment, you’ll connect with your colleagues or clients. Similar to how college can be useful for networking, the same is said with internships and apprenticeships. Making connections with people within the industry, you want to break into is one of the most effective ways to get your first job.

While interns are stereotyped as people who grab coffee and make copies, a serious internship program will teach you at least a couple of practical skills you can use for the rest of your life. Apprenticeships are even more intensive, and you’ll likely have a fully functional skillset at the end of it. Remember, internships and apprenticeships are not fully theoretical like college classes; they are practical and designed to get you into a chosen field.

Internships and apprenticeships also won’t make you fall behind in your grades. They offer the same or more credits than a typical course and are usually not difficult to get a good grade in, giving little downside to obtaining them.

Engaging in an internship or apprenticeship once per year will make you way more competitive in the job market than people who didn’t try to get hands-on experience.

Both apprenticeships and internships are forms of education, but they have different priorities when it comes to learning.

Due to their skill-intensive nature, apprenticeships include classroom training dedicated to enhancing technical abilities. Apprentices spend at least six hours per week formally developing their skills in a classroom setting and applying what they’ve learned outside of class.

Interns, on the other hand, are not expected to become highly skilled employees for their company. A big difference between an apprenticeship and an internship is that there are no formal classroom components for internships, and interns are usually not expected to learn anything highly technical during their time. However, good internship programs and companies will often expose interns to training sessions, workshops, and online courses so that they can still develop their skills at their own pace.

What Are the Job Prospects for Interns and Apprentices?

For those interested in internships, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what will happen once your internship is complete. While many people do get hired by the company they interned for, this is not the case for most.

Internships should not primarily be seen as a direct path to full-time employment with a specific company, but rather as a resume builder and a method of networking. Additionally, because internships are relatively low investment, they provide perfect exposure to careers and industries you are curious about pursuing.

On the other hand, apprenticeships can be viewed more as a job. A couple of years into an apprenticeship, you may already begin to identify yourself as a professional in your trade. Apprenticeships usually exist for highly technical jobs, so by the time you complete one, you will already be established in your target industry.

Because companies invest years in developing their apprentices, they are highly inclined to hire you as a full-time employee. An apprentice can expect to have a full-time job at the end of their apprenticeship, along with a higher job title and salary. Internships may involve some mentorship and training, but it is often less intense and less structured.

Why Internships Are More Common and What That Means for Job Seekers

Industries that have a large demand for highly technical workers often use apprenticeships as a way to gain new talent. This is one of the reasons why trades have so many apprenticeship opportunities. It is difficult to learn how to be an electrician solely through academic learning, so it makes sense for a company to take a vested interest in your education. This becomes the primary way for them to develop skilled employees.

However, most jobs are not that highly specialized, which gives companies less incentive to dedicate resources to apprenticeships. This is why internships are much more common. Companies can still find talent to hire full-time through internships, but that’s not their primary purpose or expectation.

While apprenticeships are usually associated with trades, more companies in a wider variety of industries are adopting the apprenticeship model. Though still not the norm, in recent years there are is a growing presence of apprenticeship programs in software, information technology, engineering, and finance.

Interns and apprentices have varied levels of commitment, which means their responsibilities and expectations are drastically different.

Interns come from diverse backgrounds, and their career progression is less defined. As a result, they are not expected to be highly skilled during their internship. Interns usually handle low-level tasks, either individually or as part of a larger group project. The specific tasks assigned will vary and are likely based on the intern’s education and experience up to that point.

In contrast, apprenticeships are more rigid and structured. Apprentices follow a clear path with little variation, which means they are held to high-performance standards. They are trained to develop specific, highly technical skills with minimal customization involved. By the end of their apprenticeship, apprentices become nearly interchangeable with experienced workers as they take on higher responsibilities to match their improved skill set.

Let's look at the pros and cons of both programs!

Internship

Apprenticeships

Which is Better for me, an Internship or an Apprenticeship?

Both internships and apprenticeships are excellent options for gaining experience and entering the workforce. However, when choosing between them, consider several key factors.

If you aspire to work in a specific trade or highly technical industries, an apprenticeship may be more suitable. On the other hand, if your career goals are broader and you’re open to exploring different fields, an internship might be a better fit.

Your financial situation can also play a significant role. If you need to support yourself or your family, an apprenticeship offers a salary, while internships often pay very little or nothing at all despite their short-term commitment.

Lastly, consider your learning style. Apprenticeships involve intensive training and direct mentorship, which can be demanding. If you prefer more flexibility and less micromanagement, an internship may provide a better fit while still offering valuable work experience.

Both internships and apprenticeships are valuable forms of education, but it’s important to be proactive in your career development. Don’t just show up for work—aim to become a smarter, more skilled, and resourceful person by the end of your educational journey. Here are some tips to make the most out of your internship or apprenticeship:

• Build relationships: Network with your colleagues, clients, mentors, and other professionals.
• Ask questions: Challenge yourself with unfamiliar projects, seek clarification when needed, and use feedback for self-improvement.
• Set goals: Aim to achieve realistic milestones within set timelines.
• Reflect: Regularly review your progress, assess any areas where you haven’t advanced, and consider how you can address these issues to move forward.

Conclusion

Apprenticeships and internships serve different purposes, but both are valuable ways to start a career. Compared to recent graduates who only completed coursework, participating in an internship or apprenticeship provides a significant advantage.

Evaluating whether an apprenticeship or internship is right for you is crucial not only for your career prospects but also for demonstrating a thoughtful approach to your career progression. To explore additional ways to make informed decisions about your career, you can read more articles on Cake.

— Originally written by Chris Grudge —