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The Evolution of The Career Internship [INFOGRAPHIC]

It’s hard to believe that the predecessor of today’s internship came to life in the 11th century. The interns in the past were actually apprentices seeking practical experience to grow their skill set in a trade, art, or calling.

Today, students embark on internships during their college years to gain out-of-the-classroom experience prior to entering their industry. But just like the 11th century, an internship are key to gaining the necessary experience to get hired in a full-time position.

InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers, compiled the infographic below which showcases the impact internships have had on our world. In the 80s, only 3 percent of college students completed an internship, but today, 47 percent of employers boast structured internship programs. Here are some key points to note:

37% of students say internships are a good job search resource
81% of employers find they have better experiences with new hires that have intern experience
33% of employers hire virtual interns, a 20% increase from 2011 to 2012
The average wage rate for interns at bachelor’s level is $16.21

Check out the full infographic below and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

What do you think? Do you think internships will continue to evolve into a mandatory aspect of every career?

Compiled by InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers — which details internships from the 11th century until today.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

What Soft Skills do Employers Want From Job Seekers?

Soft skills are critical to demonstrate throughout the hiring process, and become evident as all skills are discussed. In fact, there are surveys like the one below that suggest candidates lack showcasing them in the workplace. The other suggestion is that job seekers that demonstrate them will stand out in addition to having the hard skills needed for any position.

Recently, the December 2012 issue of Business Communication Quarterly published a paper citing top 10 soft skills Executives need in the workplace:

1) Communication

2) Courtesy

3) Flexibility

4) Integrity

5) Interpersonal skills

6) Positive attitude

7)Professionalism

8) Responsibility

9)Team work

10) Work ethic

These skills were also rated among the same group from most to least important by the same group of CEOs, again, these are soft skills that they value the most:

Integrity 93.0
Communication 91.2
Courtesy 84.2
Responsibility 71.9
Interpersonal skills 61.4
Professionalism 47.4
Positive attitude 45.6
Teamwork skills 43.9
Flexibility 42.1
Work ethic 36.8

Simply, soft skills are a combination of people skills, career attributes, and customer service. Every profession rely on these skills to sell and service customer/client issues.

*Business Communication Quarterly December 2012 75: 453-465, first published on October 8, 2012

Embody these skills

Job seekers cannot say a certain soft skill is here or there. It is part of who you are professionally. It is not like clothing that you can put it on, nor are attributes that you can point out. It is there when a job seeker explains and demonstrates hard skills needed for a position. Soft skills are valuable transferable attributes that noticeable when it has becomes the job candidate.

Which of the above soft skills are your strength (s)? Which one do you need to work on? Let us know in the comments.