Internship

Intern:  an advanced student or graduate usually in a professional field (such as medicine or teaching) gaining supervised practical experience (as in a hospital or classroom).  Today is National Interns Day, a day to recognize these individuals who are testing the professional waters in their chosen field or profession.  Often, an intern does their work unpaid or for a substantially lower salary or they might be working towards academic credit.  All of this is necessary, though, for some on-the-job training and hands-on experience.

Linked in provides a good synopsis of the expectations upon interns.

What Industry Expects from Interns

1. A Willingness to Learn Fact: According to a NACE survey, 77% of employers prioritize a strong willingness to learn in interns over technical skills. Tip: Companies are not expecting you to know everything, but they do expect you to show curiosity, adaptability, and eagerness to grow.
2. Basic Professional Skills Key Expectations: Timeliness and meeting deadlines. Effective communication—both written and verbal. Basic technical skills relevant to the role, such as familiarity with tools or programming languages.
3. Proactive Engagement Industries appreciate interns who take initiative, ask thoughtful questions, and seek feedback to improve their work.
4. Team Collaboration Internships are not just individual learning experiences; they are collaborative efforts. Demonstrating the ability to work with a team is often a critical factor in securing a full-time role.
5. Cultural Fit Understanding and aligning with the company’s values, mission, and culture goes a long way in creating a positive impression.

What Interns Can Expect from the Industry

1. Real-World Exposure Internships provide insights into the practical application of classroom knowledge. Example: An intern working in a marketing role might learn how strategies are developed, budgets allocated, and campaigns executed—things often not covered in theory.
2. Mentorship and Networking Good internship programs pair interns with mentors who guide them through challenges and provide career advice.
3. Skill Development Interns often gain hands-on experience with industry tools and technologies, soft skills like time management, and exposure to corporate culture.

How Interns Can Transition to Full-Time Roles

1. Master the Art of Asking Questions Be inquisitive about processes, tools, and the company’s goals. This not only showcases your interest but also helps you understand the role better.
2. Deliver Results, Even in Small Tasks Approach every task, big or small, with seriousness. Consistently meeting or exceeding expectations builds your credibility.
3. Build Relationships Networking within the company helps you understand its dynamics and leaves a lasting impression on team members.
4. Seek Feedback and Act on It Regularly request feedback and demonstrate improvement. It signals your commitment to growth.
5. Express Your Interest in Full-Time Opportunities Be vocal about your desire to continue with the company. Many organizations prioritize hiring interns who have already demonstrated their potential.¹

You may be reading this and thinking, “What good is this information to me?  This is a devotional.  I’m not looking for a job; I’m looking for some spiritual encouragement.”   My friend, this has great application to the spiritual world in which we live!

Consider 1 Kings 19:15-16.  “And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:  (16)  And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.”  God chose Elijah’s intern and in this role, Elisha served Elijah.  2 Kings 3:11 records this truth.  “But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

This future prophet of God started out as a lowly intern.  He accompanied Elijah wherever he went.  Elijah gave Elisha ample opportunity to back out of his internship, often telling him to stay or return home.  Elisha refused, choosing rather to stick close to his mentor and friend.  All of this provided Elisha with the training he would soon need.

When Elijah was translated into Heaven, Elisha stood by and watched.  He picked up Elijah’s mantle and from then on was recognized as the prophet of the Lord.  He had begun the job for which he had interned.  How long was the internship?  Scripture doesn’t tell us, but the scholarly number-crunchers suggest it lasted between three to six years.

Take a moment and reread the Linked expectations of interns.  Can you see how they apply?  If you were “applying” for the job of prophet and wanted to learn from a seasoned professional, those expectations begin to make sense.

Now, I know that some eager beaver is just waiting to pounce on me about this and declare that being a prophet is a calling and appointment by God, not a job to be sought.  I 100% totally and emphatically agree.  Please do not stretch the analogy too far.  All I’m saying is that God put Elisha in a position of trainee under Elijah, the trainer.  If Elisha was going to learn, he would have done many of the things Linked in suggested.

In the church, none of us – pastor included – will live forever and someone is going to take our place.  Are we helping to train and mentor the next generation?  Yes, God must call people into His service and into positions.  But we must be willing and ready to train and mentor.  Let’s make a plan to do that today!

Philippians 4:9 – “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

¹https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-industry-expects-from-interns-should-expect-return-pradeep-m-oedqc

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