Why Internships Matter More Than Ever in 2026

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Securing a dream job after completing college is every student’s goal. Students work hard day and night to achieve it. However, over time, recruitment methods have changed significantly. Earlier, campus hiring was the primary source of recruitment for most companies. Now, many organizations are gradually moving away from traditional campus drives, especially those that prefer hiring interns—since interns already possess real-world work experience before taking up full-time roles.

What is an Internship?

• An internship is a period during which a student works with a company to gain practical, real-time work experience. The duration can range from a few weeks to several months.
• Internships can be paid or unpaid, depending on the organization.
• The main objective is to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and workplace application.
• It helps students understand professional work environments and develop job-ready skills.

Experts say internships give employers more time to evaluate candidates compared to campus hiring. This often leads to long-term collaborations between candidates and companies.

For instance, Daiichi Bank recently hired interns across HR, Corporate Banking, and Investment Banking functions from various IIMs in India. Similarly, L&T Management believes that “Internship Hiring” is a strategic move and will soon become a permanent feature in building a sustainable talent pipeline.

 

Benefits of an Internship

Process	Internship	Placement
Time	A few weeks or a few months to judge the candidate`s abilities	30-45 minute interview
Selection Process	Long (project-based evaluation )	In a single day
Result	Opportunity to get PPO (Pre Placement Offer)	Immediate Placement
Company`s Benefit	Long time to assess and train the candidates	Short period to judge
Benefit to the candidates	Real time experience and professional network building	Fast track entry

 

Hiring Trends in 2025

 Internships are now a more preferred hiring tool for companies compared to traditional campus recruitment.

 Reasons include:

•  High applicant volume: Campus drives involve thousands of candidates, making the process time-consuming.
•  Lack of diversity: Hiring from the same set of colleges limits exposure to varied talent pools.
•  Skill gaps: Many freshers lack practical, hands-on experience.
•  High costs: Conducting campus drives involves travel, logistics, and event expenses.

Drawbacks of Campus Hiring (from a Student’s Perspective):

•  Limited options: Only a few companies visit each college.
•  Geographic restrictions: On-campus recruitment limits exposure to global or cross-regional opportunities.

 

Internship Growth in India

 In recent years, internship opportunities have grown rapidly.

 According to Internshala, internship openings grew by 24% in 2024 and are expected to increase further in 2025.

 Indeed reported a 100% rise in internship-related job postings between 2022 and 2025.

 Today, interns not only gain experience but are also paid competitive stipends ranging from ₹8,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month. The average stipend in India is ₹25,432 per month, though it is much higher in cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Noida.

 Beyond financial benefits, many companies now offer additional perks such as:

•  Work-from-home options
•  Flexible schedules
•  Health insurance coverage
•  Paid sick leave
• Mobile reimbursements 

Industries with the Most Internship Opportunities

 While practical experience is valued in every sector, certain industries have formalized internship programs because they require hands-on learning before full-time employment.

•  Management – 42% of total internships
•  Technology & Engineering – 20%
•  Media & Communication – 13%
•  Law
•  Finance
•  Healthcare & Medical
•  Design & Architecture

Internship Landscape in India (2025)

 According to Sarvesh Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Internshala:

 “Internships are no longer just a stepping stone but a foundational pillar in shaping students’ career trajectories. As we move into 2025, internships will become more inclusive, skill-focused, and aligned with youth aspirations, ensuring every student can build a successful future.”

 

Recent industry data shows:

•  25% growth in internship opportunities in 2024.

•  135% increase since 2020, indicating strong industry focus on experiential learning.

•  High demand across management, engineering, media, education, and design sectors.

•  66% of employers are open to hiring women returning to work as interns.

•  22% of internships result in Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs).

 

State- wise List of candidate percentage opted Internship

(Based on – Wheebox India Skill Report – 2025 )

 

Tamilnadu	97.46 %
UP	97.39%
Kerala	96.05 %
Karnataka	94.64%
AP	94.34%
Haryana	92.06 %
Maharashtra	91.54 %
Gujarat	86.48 %
Delhi	81.48 %
Telangana	71.43 %

 

Global Internship Trends

Globally, internships—especially in tech—are thriving. Cloudflare plans to hire 1,111 interns in 2026, while Shopify aims to bring on about 1,000 engineering interns this year.

 According to Indeed economist Allison Shrivastava, as of September 2025, internship postings in Software Development, IT Systems, Infrastructure, Operations, and Data Analytics accounted for 2.7% of all job listings, up from 2.2% in 2024.

 These figures highlight that internships are becoming more innovative, inclusive, and aligned with industry needs. They not only give students valuable exposure but also come with competitive pay and benefits. As internships continue to evolve, they will play a critical role in preparing students for the workforce and remain a cornerstone of global career development.

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