Internships in India – The Great (Unpaid?) Adventure Begins!

Student
-May 9, 2025
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Hi beta, internship mil gaya? 😅

If you’ve heard this from your mom, your neighbour aunty, and your distant cousin from Canada — congratulations, you’re officially a college student in India.

Internships. The one word that sounds like work but pays like…well, sometimes, doesn’t pay at all.

But jokes apart, internships are super important. Not just to put something fancy on your resume, but to actually figure out what you want to do in life (besides binge-watching Shark Tank).

Let’s break it down. Real talk. Desi-style.

1. Why Do You Even Need an Internship?

Let’s be honest:

No one’s going to hire you just because you passed with “First Class Distinction” from XYZ Institute of Management & Technology of Something Something.

You need:

Internships give you all of that — and a few panic attacks along the way. 🙃

2. Where to Find Internships?

No, not the one your cousin made in 2018.

You need:

LinkedIn (yes, please update your profile beyond “student at...”)
Internshala (don’t apply to 100 jobs in one click, please)
Startup WhatsApp groups (yes, they’re real goldmines)
Emailing small agencies or founders directly (Pro tip: personalize it – don’t just copy-paste "Respected Sir/Madam")

And of course, your college placement WhatsApp group that never stops pinging.

3. Unpaid Internships: Scam or Sacrifice?

Look, we get it — you want to be paid. Who doesn’t?

But sometimes (not always), an unpaid internship is worth it IF:

Red flag alert: If they say, “We can’t pay but you’ll get exposure” and they make you fill Excel sheets all day… run.

4. What Should You Actually Learn in an Internship?

Not how to fake-busy on Zoom.

You should learn:

Soft skills (how to write a professional email that doesn't start with “Hope you are doing well in this pandemic”)
Time management
How real businesses run
How you react to pressure (because “last-minute submissions” in college were nothing)

And hopefully, something about the industry you want to work in. (Unless you’re just here for the certificate… no judgment.)

5. Intern = Free Labour? Not If You Speak Up

Speak up — but politely. If you feel overworked, underappreciated, or completely ignored, it’s okay to say:

Most mentors aren’t evil. They’re just… busy. If you show interest, they’ll usually guide you.

And if they don’t? You always have LinkedIn to write a long, emotional post about your “learnings.” 😜

6. The Internship Culture in India (Spoiler: It’s Changing)

Earlier it was like:

Now? Students are asking questions. Startups are offering remote roles. Some even pay in real money, not “experience.”

It’s a work in progress — like every Indian startup.

7. Make the Most of It: Intern Like a Pro

Here’s your internship survival guide:

Remember, the goal is not to impress everyone. The goal is to learn, grow, and figure out what excites you.

8. Certificate Mil Jayega... But Skills Ka Kya?

At the end of your internship, you might get:

But more importantly:

If yes, then boss — you did it right.

Quick Checklist Before You Accept Any Internship:

Is the work relevant to your goals?
Is there any kind of mentorship?
Are they asking you to invest money? (RED FLAG 🚩)
Are your skills being used and stretched?
Will you survive without pay (if unpaid)?

If yes to most, give it a shot!

From Intern to CEO (Someday 😉)

An internship isn’t the final destination. It’s your trial run — like that first samosa fry before guests come home.

You might burn a few. You might hate the filling. But you’ll learn what works for you.

So take it seriously. But don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re still learning. And guess what? So is everyone else.

Now go, intern like a boss.

And remember: Ask for feedback, not salary… at least for the first two weeks.