Shaping future careers: Internships and job shadowing
Internships and job shadowing have become an essential part of gaining experience in today’s competitive job market.According to a report by the Namibian Chamber of Environment, the organisation spent over N$7 million from 2018 to 2023 on internships and bursary programmes.
The report, released in November 2023, pinpointed the investments made in supporting students and young professionals, offering them opportunities to gain relevant work experience.
Meanwhile, as reported by a local newspaper, the Namibia Institute for Pathology (NIP) on 16 July became the fifth corporate partner in the Namibia National Internship Programme (NNIP), joining the ranks of Momentum Metropolitan, Old Mutual, Standard Bank Namibia and MTC.
To support this national effort, MTC has committed N$2 million annually, while NIP contributed N$300 000.
This partnership aims to aid youth development and support Namibia's transition to a knowledge-based economy.
Furthermore, according to a local newspaper, MTC’s chief of operations Tim Ekandjo highlighted that over 48 000 students nationwide require work-integrated learning (WIL) to graduate.
"We welcome NIP’s support, which will help upscale the programme’s capacity," Ekandjo said.
To date, the NNIP has placed 990 students in various sectors, addressing the shortage of WIL opportunities.
Opportunities and challenges
Internships offer practical experience while also helping individuals build professional connections in their chosen fields.
They provide a glimpse into the daily realities of a profession and help students decide if it is something they want to pursue.
Work shadowing, on the other hand, allows students to follow professionals for a day to observe their tasks and responsibilities.
Thirza Damons, a guidance counsellor at St Paul’s College in Windhoek, explained that “work shadowing is a great way for students to see the real world beyond the safety of school environments. It’s a critical opportunity to observe a job and understand what it entails.”
Despite the many benefits of internships, there are also challenges. Some internships offer little or no pay, which can be discouraging for those who need financial support.
Furthermore, interns are sometimes tasked with menial work like filing or making coffee.
Damons added that many interns lose interest due to a lack of compensation or proper recognition within the company.
In contrast, internships provide vital experience that can enhance employability.
As noted by Namibian Sun, employers are increasingly looking for internship experience when hiring, making these opportunities even more critical.