January 31, 2022 | #CareerTips |MNI
Plenty of recent articles focused on the benefits of interning at start-ups. In contrast, it seems like big corporate life has become somewhat lackluster, associated with words like big and slow, tedious, inflexible, and slower career progression.
That said, there is nothing wrong with having an internship or co-op at a large corporation; there are certainly lots of advantages and experience you can gain from it. Below are the top 6 reasons why you should consider interning at a large corporation:
1. Bigger Network of People
Big corporations, as the name implies, have many employees. Therefore, as the teams are bigger, interns have more professionals to work with and develop connections with. One thing to remember, an internship is the beginning of your long career; all the contacts you make early on can potentially help you open doors, land jobs, get professional guidance, and mentorship during and after an internship.
2. Structured Training and Talent Development
Big companies usually have a highly structured process for hiring new headcounts. Before hiring can start, managers are often required to successfully demonstrate a clear need and a developmental plan associated with the role. Although this will vary by company, this indicates you will have a greater chance of having a structured training and talent development program already in place.
3. More Resources
While this depends on the company, fast-growing or cash-strapped start-ups often lack structured HR resources. In comparison, large corporates tend to have more resources dedicated to training new employees. At the same time, given the more structured nature of the role, the resources required for individuals to succeed in a function will most likely already be identified, documented, and acquired.
4. More HR support
Most corporates have mandatory training for people managers to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skillsets to manage people effectively; smaller companies often place less emphasis on this topic. Though this does not guarantee the quality of the managers you will have, working for a large corporation does increase the chance of you getting a manager with some level of managerial training. At the same time, the managers will also be able to tap into resources like HR if necessary. However, it is essential to note that this is not always the case. Many highly skilled workers end up leaving large corporations to join start-ups.
5. Chance to explore different jobs/functions
Unlike start-ups, big companies are comprised of various departmental functions and teams (i.e., Finance, Marketing, Sales, Legal, External Affairs, HR, etc.). As a result, large corporations tend to host intra-department meetings and knowledge share sessions where employees can gain a big picture overview of how different departments work together.
Sessions like this can be highly valuable as they will allow you to witness how different leadership styles within the company impact office culture and the dynamics of individual teams. At the same time, as an intern, you can actively explore other functions and types of roles within the company at a high level by networking with people in different job functions and departments. If you're lucky and depending on your boss, they may allow you to shadow other departments. This early exploration can widely expand your future career options.
6. A big name on your resume
Most candidates' resumes look pretty similar for many entry-level roles: all recent graduates, a few internships, and co-ops here and there. However, there is no denying that one of the most significant benefits of interning for a big company is prestige and professional recognition. Like studying at a well-known school, interning at respected companies can make your resume stand out, making you more competitive and respectable in the job market.
Conclusion
If your internship company can present you with a challenging position that gives you the experience and insights into your prospective career field, it does not matter whether you choose a small or large company – but be sure that the internship will be beneficial to your career and that you feel good about the organization.
Remember, the idea of an internship is to find a company and mentor that will help you grow in your career and area of study.
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