Entering a higher education course brings important changes to the student’s daily life, which now has a greater number of activities and responsibilities. In addition to attending classes, studying subjects, doing homework and solving tests, it is very likely that, at a certain point in their training, university students begin the life of an intern.
As it is a fundamental stage of the training process, the internship is usually surrounded by conflicting information, often even false, which can lead to confusion in the mind of university students.
In this text, we will clarify certain myths and confirm some truths about the life of an intern. You will see that the internship is not a seven-headed animal, it can be the gateway to many job opportunities.
1. Internship is mandatory
Myth
This obligation depends, in fact, on the Course Pedagogical Project (PPC) to which the student is linked. Therefore, it is the educational institution where the student studies that establishes — or not — the obligation of the internship, specifying its characteristics, such as the minimum workload.
However, although some PPCs only recommend the internship, most of them make it a mandatory curricular component. This is because universities realize the importance of this type of experience for the professional future.
2. Internships are governed by specific law
Truth
The internship should not be understood as a common work regime, such as those practiced in the country. In 2008, Law No. 11,788 was enacted , which provides for guidelines for professional internship activities and serves as a reference for colleges to stipulate their specific rules.
This legislation is important because, in addition to regulating the internship, it grants guarantees and benefits so that students can have the opportunity to experience experiences specific to their area of expertise in the job market. That is, it is the legal support that the intern has throughout his work in a company.
3. It is possible to do a postgraduate internship
Truth
Even if it is not as common as in higher education courses, students are allowed to develop an internship while they are studying a postgraduate course, specializations and Master Business Administration (MBA) — and masters and degrees. doctorates.
In general, most of the internships developed in postgraduate courses are done in masters and doctorates. This happens because universities usually have specific internship programs for these teaching modalities.
4. Intern has vacation
Truth
Even if the internship does not configure a typical labor relationship, the university student enjoys some of the rights that workers, whose jobs are governed by labor laws, have.
Thus, after completing twelve months of internship, the university student is entitled to take 30 days of vacation. The student should enjoy this right, preferably, during the university vacation period. If the student’s length of service is not exactly 12 months, the vacation must be taken proportionally.
5. Internship activities are all banal
Myth
This is probably the biggest myth of all and one that even discourages many students when it comes to internships. In general, companies have good and serious internship programs , which enable students to develop practical activities, in order to feel firsthand how the contents of the subjects they learned in books and classes or even carried out in laboratories work.
6. The internship can be remunerated
Truth
In the case of a non-compulsory internship, companies offer a compensation to the student for the service provided. Generally, this reward is given through the offer of scholarships, the value of which varies with the workload to be completed and the type of activity carried out.
7. There is a limit of hours and days to intern
Truth
According to the specific legislation in force, the internship can be developed for a maximum period of 24 months. This duration is only extended in cases of people with disabilities.
University students are allowed to work for 6 hours a day, at the internship location, so that the total duration of activities cannot exceed 30 hours a week. In addition, the internship must be carried out between Monday and Saturday, at times that do not compromise classes and other academic tasks, which have timetables stipulated by the educational institution.
8. The intern always takes the blame for problems
Myth
It is undeniable that the intern is still in the process of professional training, learning work routines and putting into practice what he is studying in college. Considering this situation, it would not be surprising for university students to make some mistakes.
However, making mistakes is a common action even for the most experienced employees of a company, a reality that is understood in most corporations. In addition, it is understood that the work is always done as a team, with eventual blame shared among the members.
9. The internship always leads to tenure
Myth
What guarantees the achievement of a placement in the labor market is not having completed an internship at a particular company, although this can help if the future professional has demonstrated satisfactory performance. Furthermore, the internship does not represent any employment relationship between the company and the student.
In addition to being a period to develop the learning of practical skills, the internship is a great opportunity for the university student to show service to the supervisor and other team members. Therefore, it is essential that activities are carried out efficiently and always proactively.
As we seek to clarify, there are myths that have nothing to do with the intern’s life, while there are truths not always known by students, which can be of great use during their training.
The most important thing is that the student has true information about the internship so that he is able to enjoy his activities in the best possible way.
