Internship - what is it and what are its benefits?

An internship means acquiring professional skills by an unemployed person and is organized by the Employment Office. The contract is not concluded on the basis of an employment relationship between the trainee and the company. It concerns the contract concluded by the starost with the employer based on the detailed criteria listed therein.

Internship and apprenticeship - is it the same?

Internship is often equated with practice, and these terms are used interchangeably. However, this is a mistake as the two are different from each other. The placement applies to young people and students during or immediately after their studies. On the other hand, the internship applies to the unemployed registered in the Labor Office. What connects both forms is their goal, which is to support the acquisition of skills needed to perform a given profession and enrich the experience.

Who can become an intern?

Unemployed persons registered with the Labor Office may be sent for an internship. However, they must meet certain specific requirements. They can be:

• unemployed people up to 25 years of age;
• women who, after giving birth to a child, did not take up employment, thus not being economically active;
• people who are in this situation for a long time or who have completed the implementation of a social contract;
• unemployed people over 50;
• people without professional qualifications, work experience or people who do not have secondary education;
• persons who are raising at least one child who is under 18 years of age;
• disabled people and at the same time unemployed;
• unemployed people who were imprisoned and did not take up employment after its termination.

How long is the internship?

The duration of one internship is 6 months. The maximum total duration of internships with one employer is 12 months, i.e. twice a year. However, it should be remembered that there should be a break between them of at least a year. A person who is a trainee must also remember that he or she can use this form of gaining professional qualifications and experience for a maximum of 24 months.

What documents must the trainee provide?

The trainee should be aware of the formalities he should complete in order not to breach the rules of the internship. The two most important documents in this situation are the attendance list and the internship report.

The attendance list is necessary to confirm your presence at the place of the internship. A person who is on an internship must deliver it to the Employment Office every month in a timely manner - in accordance with the provisions of the contract. On the other hand, the internship report, along with the rest of the required documentation, must be submitted upon completion. It describes the specific tasks and activities that the trainee did in order to master the job. The report is to confirm that the internship supervisor and the trainee have fulfilled the program that was included in the contract. Start a free 30-day trial period with no strings attached!

What are the benefits of an internship?

If you want to apply for an internship, it is worth realizing the benefits of this form of cooperation:

1. Experience - during the internship, you have the opportunity to gain valuable and practical preparation for a given profession. This is the time to use the acquired practical knowledge, e.g. while studying in a real work environment. In addition, the internship allows you to demonstrate your experience in the industry area.
2. Increasing opportunities on the labor market - proven experience gained during the internship makes you a more attractive candidate for a given position. Employers value people who are active and determined to develop and expand their knowledge.
3. Scholarship - a scholarship in the amount of 140% of the unemployment benefit is granted and paid by the competent Poviat Labor Office. This allows the trainee not only to gain professional skills, but also to earn - he or she has a sense of stability and security during the internship.

If you are passionate about a given area or want to ensure that you are active in the labor market, an internship may be an ideal and paid form of gaining skills and experience.