Definition: Externships are very similar to internships but only of a much shorter duration. Another common name for externship is job shadowing. Although these opportunities may only consist of one day to several weeks, they tend to offer participants a bird’s eye view of what it’s actually like working in a particular career field as well as providing some professional contacts for future networking.
Due to the short duration of an externship, the time spent at a sponsoring organization can take many forms. Students may spend the day observing, asking questions, and attending meetings. Sometimes students get an opportunity to participate in a project, depending on the type of organization where they are doing their externship. Many times they will get a tour of the organization and get a chance to meet with people working in other offices or departments. Doing one or more externships during winter or spring break is a great way to learn more about careers and meet professionals currently working in the field.
