11 V May 2023

https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2023.51639
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

A Study on Intern’s Experience and Struggle

during Internship
Mrs. Shruthi. P. R.1, Ms. Atchaya B2
1
Assistant Professor, Sri Krishna Adithya College Of Arts and Science, Coimbatore-641042
2
Student Sri Krishna Adithya College of Arts and Science -641042

Abstract: This article conveys about the internship, its types, and the intern's experience and struggles. The major problems to be
found are the language barrier, relationship between co-workers, partiality, and so on. One of the ways to overcome the basic
struggle is to be flexible with others and try to adapt to the environment that an intern works in.
Keywords: internship, experience, problems, relation between workers.

I. INTRODUCTION
An internship is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a student’s field of study or
career interest.
Internship can be also explained as the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in
order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. They are typically undertaken
by students and graduates looking to gain relevant skills and experience in a particular field.
A chartered accounting internship is ideal for a commerce student if they love numbers. In this internship, their responsibilities
would be to prepare and maintain financial records and work on essential accounting functions. This internship would help clarify
career goals, offer them work experience, and give job leads.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this research is identifying the difficulties and the experiences of the interns during their internship. Some of the
problems that the intern’s went through are like language adoption, supervision of higher authorities, lack of knowledge and
experience and so on.

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1) To bring out the challenges that every intern faces during internship.
2) To know whether all the interns do the work related to their core subject studied.
3) To know the steps that are to be taken in order to build up a strong work experience.
4) To understand the Impact of Internships on Regular studies
5) To explore the satisfaction level and to examine the changes in the attitude changes because of the internship experience.

IV. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study covers the factors like satisfaction level of interns who do internships for their benefits accordingly.This study also states
the difficulties faced by the interns during their internships.

V. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

The study is intended to analyse the experience and struggles faced by the interns during internship in Coimbatore city.
The methodology of the study includes

A. Area of the study

The area of the study is confined to Coimbatore City.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2774
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

B. Source of data
The study uses only primary data confined questionnaires that have been prepared and collected from various consumers. The
Primary research is done to gather original data required for the research. The research is focused on both Qualitative and
Quantitative issues. The Secondary data are collected from websites, books, journals, etc.

C. Sample Size
135 samples have been collected with the help of 25 questionnaires from different consumers. Convenient Sampling method is
applied.

D. Statistical Tool Used

1) Ranking Analysis
2) Weighted Average Score Method
VI. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
1) This study is limited to Coimbatore city.
2) The duration of the study covers only 6 months.
3) The study is purely based on both primary and secondary data.
4) The study is restricted to the students and workers who are intended to do internships.

VII. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

1) Sawania, Y et.al (2016)1 presented the most prominent internship in Commerce discipline comparison of accounting, finance,
marketing, business and tax. Accounting internships specialize in tax and audit. In the case of Big 4 firms, the interns require
professional knowledge. Majority of the employers were satisfied with the students while some conveyed the inability of the
interns in the technical report preparation and idea communication. There can be lots of influence in the work like ragging and
bullying which at times cannot be prevented as the seniors have more liberty of using interns and juniors for their purpose.
2) Andrew Cannon &Mark J. Arnold, 20162 Student Expectations of Collegiate Internship Programs in Business study-J stated the
findings of this research that students have adopted a significantly more pragmatic orientation to college internship programs in
business. Students were increasingly seeing the internship less as a vehicle for augmenting their education, and more as a means
of gaining a competitive edge in the marketplace for new jobs. Business schools should accordingly ensure that the strategic
focus of their internship programs reflects the reality of today's employment market and what students expect from such
programs. They should strongly consider allocating additional resources to internship programs, improving program flexibility,
and further encouraging student participation.
3) Prakash Kumar Gautam, 20173.Satisfaction and Behavioral Intention from Internship Program : A Perceptual Survey From
Hotel Management Students, His study concluded that the majority of the students were satisfied with the intern opportunity
and hence they wish to join the hotel industry. The study has observed a low but positive and significant relationship with
satisfaction and intention of changing attitude. The study has also explored the fact that there is no gender influence in the
satisfaction level of the intern students but male students were prone to change on behavioral intention. Students were positive
regarding their career choice but were fond of developing a negative attitude towards college management as well as in-college
activities.
4) Ssenjovu Saul in 20184 gave a report on fieldwork attachment carried out at Nansana municipal council headquarters. While
undertaking the internship training, the intern was inevitably faced by a number of challenges, issues and limitations arising
from different causes and sources. The major challenges and limitations of the internship program will be enlisted and
categorized under personal, institutional, community, work group and teamwork and technical challenges or limitations. There
were many skills that can be learned and which were very important when the exact professional work starts like analytical
skills, value of patience, flexibility at work, value of humility, time conscience and so on.

1
Sawania, Y., Abdillah, A., Rahmat, M., Noyem, J. A., &Sirat, Z. (2016). Employer’s Satisfaction On Accounting Service Performance: A Case Of A Public
University Internship Program. Procedia-Social And Behavioral Sciences, 224, 347-352.
2
J. Andrew Cannon &Mark J. Arnold, 31 Mar 2016, Student Expectations Of Collegiate Internship Programs In Business, Journal Of Education For Business, 202-
205.
3
Prakash Kumar Gautam, December 2017, Satisfaction And Behavioral Intention From Internship Program : A Perceptual Survey From Hotel Management
Students, Researchgate.
4
Ssenjovu Saul, 2018, A Report On Fieldwork Attachment Carried Out At Nansana Municipal Council Headquarters, Academia.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2775
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

5) Manjit Biant in 20195 analyzed the differences among ‘Student Perceptions and Motivations of Formal and Informal
Accounting and Finance Internships at UWTSD’. Responses were recorded using Inductive reasoning, Qualitative research
method, open-ended interview method, where the students were grouped into two. There were similarities and differences
among the groups but they undertook the internship to have hands-on experience to improve their employability prospects. This
research found that being a real accountant is far different from the accountant in textbooks.

A. Research Gap
The previous studies have covered the fact that the textbook learnings are far from the real work experience, but this study covers
the factors to improve the working experience to have better knowledge about the job and its role. Many projects have discussed the
struggles faced by the interns, but not so many have discussed the satisfaction about the internship. So, this research intends to
concentrate on both satisfaction and struggles faced by the interns.

VIII. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Analysis and interpretation of data is the process of assigning meaning to collected information and determining the conclusion,
significance and implication of the findings. It is an important and exciting step in the process of research. Analysis of data is a
process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming and modelling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing
conclusion and supporting decision-making. Data analysis is a process for obtaining raw data and converting it into information
useful for decision making buyers. Data are collected and analysed to answer questions, test hypotheses or disprove theories.
Statistician John Tukey defined Data analysis as “Procedure for analysing data, techniques for interpreting the results of such
procedures, ways of planning the gathering of data to make its analysis easier, more precise or more accurate, and all the machinery
and results of statistics which apply to analysing data”.

A. Percentage Analysis

Table no. 1
Table showing the useful things learnt by respondents during internship.
S.No Useful thing learnt No. of Respondents Percentage

1 Learning from 44 32.6

mistakes

2 Communication 61 45.2

3 Being resourceful 30 22.2

Total 135 100

Source: Primary Data

 Interpretation: The above table shows that 45.2% of the respondents learnt communication, 32.6% of the respondents learnt
from their mistakes and 22.2% of the respondents learnt to be resourceful.

5
Biant, M. (2019). A Case Study Of Student Perceptions And Motivations Of Formal And Informal Accounting And Finance Internships At Uwtsd. A Case Study
Of Student Perceptions And Motivations Of Formal And Informal Accounting And Finance Internships At Uwtsd.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2776
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

Chart showing the useful things learnt by respondents during internship.

Table No : 2
Table showing How much the internship learnings match the college textbook learnings.
S.No Match No. of Respondents Percentage

1 Totally 62 45.9

2 Partially 59 43.7

3 None 14 10.4

Total 135 100

Source: Primary Data

 Interpretation: The above table shows that 45.9% of the respondents states that internship learning totally matches with
textbook learnings, 43.7% of the respondents states that internship learning partially matches with textbook learnings and
10.4% of the respondents states that internship learning doesn’t match with textbook learnings.

Chart showing How much the internship learnings match the college textbook learnings.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2777
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

Table No :3
Table showing the major disadvantage faced by the respondents.
S.No Disadvantages No. of Respondents Percentage

1 Language 29 21.5

2 Coordination 42 31.1

3 Support from seniors 19 14.1

4 Lack of knowledge 45 33.3

Total 135 100

Source: Primary Data

 Interpretation: The above table shows that 33.3% of the respondents states that lack of knowledge is the major disadvantage,
31.1% of the respondents states that coordination is the major disadvantage, 21.5% of the respondents states that language is the
major disadvantage and 14.1% of the respondents states that support from seniors is the major disadvantage.

Chart showing the major disadvantages faced by the respondents.

Table No: 4
Table showing how the respondents manage internships and studies/work together.
S.No Reason No. of Respondents Percentage

1 Keep track of routine 45 33.3

2 Make notes 51 37.8

3 Prepare schedules 39 28.9

Total 135 100

Source: Primary Data

 Interpretation: The above table shows that 37.8% of the respondents made notes to manage internship with their routine,
33.3% of the respondents kept track of things to manage internship with their routine and 28.9% of the respondents prepared
schedules to manage internship with their routine.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2778
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

Table showing how the respondents manage internships and studies/work together.

B. Weighted Average Score Method

A Weighted average is an average in which each observation in the data set is assigned or multiplied by a weight before
summing to a single average value. In this process, each quantity to be averaged is assigned a weight that determines the relative
importance of each quantity, to be averaged is assigned a weight that determines the relative importance of each quantity.
Weighting is the equivalent of having that many like items with the same value involved in the average.
A weighted average score takes different scores, or grades, with assigned weights, or percentages. To calculate a weighted
average with percentage, each category value must first be multiplied by its percentage. Then all these new values must be
added together.

Table no 5
Table showing the respondents satisfaction after completing internship.
Factors HS S N DS HDS Total Weighted Rank
1 2 3 4 5 Average Score

Certificate 53 22 29 24 7 315 2.33 6

Practical skills 12 63 39 15 7 347 2.57 5

Work experience 22 34 58 13 8 356 2.63 3

Office atmosphere 19 36 51 26 3 363 2.68 2

Support from 21 46 35 31 6 364 2.69 1

superior

Self development 24 39 45 17 10 355 2.32 4

Source: Primary data

 Interpretation: The above table shows that the satisfaction of the respondents in few factors after completing their internship
which included Support from seniors that ranked first which shows that the respondents are more satisfied with that and then
followed by Office atmosphere, Work experience, Self development, Practical skills and the least satisfied factor from the
opinion of the respondents is the Certificate they provided after completing their internship.

©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved | SJ Impact Factor 7.538 | ISRA Journal Impact Factor 7.894 | 2779
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

C. Rank Analysis
A Ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either ‘ranked higher than,’ ‘ranked
lower than’ or ‘ranked equal to;’ the second. In mathematics, this is known as a weak order or total pre order of objects. It is not
necessarily a total order of objects because two different objects can have the same ranking. The rankings themselves are totally
ordered. For example, materials are totally reordered by hardness, while degrees of hardness are totally ordered.
By reducing detailed measures to a sequence of ordinal numbers, rankings make it possible to evaluate complex information
according to certain criteria. Thus, for example, an Internet search engine may rank the pages it finds according to an estimation
of their relevance, making it possible for the user quickly to select the pages they are likely to want to see. Analysis of data
obtained by ranking commonly requires non-parametric statistics.
Table no. 6
Table showing the relationship between the respondents and their colleagues during internship.
Factor No. of respondents Total Rank

Very Good 1 19 19 4

Good 2 52 104 2

Moderate 3 55 165 1

Bad 4 7 28 3

Very Bad 5 2 10 5

Source: Primary data

 Interpretation: The above table shows supportive and comfortable relationship ranking between respondents and their
colleagues. The majority of the respondents stated that their relationship was moderate as it was not so comfortable and the
colleagues were not that much supportive. The next ranking order states that the relationship was good and then followed by
bad relationship, very good relationship and the least opted option was the very bad relationship.

IX. FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Objective of the study was to know about the experience, struggles and knowledge of internship. This study measures the
overall satisfaction of interns of internship in Coimbatore city. The study has been analysed using Percentage analysis, weighted
average score analysis, Rank analysis. The final chapter is an attempt to summarize the findings of the study based on which few
suggestions have been made.

1) Percentage Analysis
● 45.2% of the respondents learnt communication during internship.
● 45.9% of the respondents stated that internship learning totally matches with textbook learnings.
● 33.3% of the respondents stated that lack of knowledge is the major disadvantage.
● 37.8% of the respondents made notes to manage internships with their routine.

2) Weighted Average Score Analysis

Support from seniors ranked first for the satisfaction of the respondents in few factors after completing their internship which shows
that the respondents are more satisfied with that and then followed by Office atmosphere, Work experience, Self development,
Practical skills and the least satisfied factor from the opinion of the respondents is the Certificate they provided after completing
their internship.

3) Rank Analysis
The majority of the respondents stated their relationship with the colleagues was moderate as it was not so comfortable and the
colleagues were not that much supportive too and then by ranking order it states that the relationship was good and then followed by
bad relationship, very good relationship and the least opted option was the very bad relationship option.

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

A. Suggestions
The relationship between the colleagues and interns should be improved. The practical skills vary with the book knowledge. So it
should be updated. Right amount of training should be provided when an intern goes for an internship. The certificates provided at
the completion of the internship should be more valued.The teamwork, coordination thoughts should be improved in the minds of
interns. The lack of knowledge for the work should not exist. The duration of the internship should be increased to learn more about
the work. The work experience should be in a way that the interns think of continuing that work as their full time job. The work
experience should be more resourceful to the interns. The language barrier should not be present during the internship. The
dominance of the senior colleagues should not be present. The superiors should not assign the work to the interns which is not
related to their core work opted. The interns should learn to manage the internship and their studied/routine work simultaneously.

B. Conclusion
This study helped to learn more about internships. This study elaborated the experiences and the struggles faced by the interns
during their internship. This study gave me a wide knowledge about how internships work. This research has elucidated on the
working environment experienced by the interns that can pave way to understand the merits and demerits of work ethics, so that
they can prepare themself to overcome the exertion of work by balancing both job and studies simultaneously which will also
improve the skill of multitasking and teamwork which is absolutely needed in present environment.

REFERENCES
[1] https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/654476/viewer
[2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08832329809601630
[3] https://www2.deloitte.com/sg/en/pages/careers/articles/my-deloitte-internship-experience.html
[4] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320553506_Satisfaction_and_Behavioural_Intention_from_Internship_Program_A_Perceptual_Survey_From_Hotel_
Management_Students
[5] https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.608.2635&rep=rep1&type=pdf
[6] https://www.academia.edu/37010218/internship_report_at_local_council_office_docx
[7] https://ro.uow.edu.au/aabfj/vol4/iss3/4/
[8] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09639280701220277?src=recsys
[9] https://www.academia.edu/42234837/A_case_study_of_Student_Perceptions_and_Motivations_of_Formal_and_Informal_Accounting_and_Finance_Internship
s_at_UWTSD
[10] https://www.hult.edu/blog/summer-internship-experience/
[11] https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/students-speak-challenges-we-face-during-internships-help-us-prepare-for-the-future-blogId-26573
[12] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341341068_Key_Criticisms_Of_Engineering_Internship_Duration_A_systematic_Literature_Review
[13] https://www.academia.edu/40176814/INTERNSHIP_REPORT_FOR_ACCOUNTING_AND_FINANCE
[14] https://www.studocu.com/row/document/university-of-karachi/speech-communication/internship-report-of-bba-for-finance-students/17003047
[15] https://www.slideshare.net/AakashBhalla2/summer-internship-report-shekhar-chandra-ca
[16] https://www.scribd.com/document/419220146/Internship-Report-under-CA#
[17] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333426252_Determinants_of_the_Perceived_Internship_Effectiveness_Exploring_Students'_Experiences
[18] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348303592_E-
INTERNSHIP_A_BOON_OR_AN_IMPEDIMENT_TO_COMMERCE_STUDENTS_IN_KERALA_DURING_COVID-19_LOCKDOWN
[19] https://fbj.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43093-019-0007-3
[20] https://www.pearson.com/ped-blogs/pearsonstudents/2020/05/internship-story-struggle-success.html

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

ANNEXURE
1) E-mail
2) Age
● 18-22,
● 23-26,
● 27-30,
● 31 and above.

3) College/Office name
4) Gender
● Male,
● Female,
● Prefer not to say.

5) Department in studies
6) Qualification
● Post Graduate
● Undergraduate
● Higher Secondary
● Other

7) Where did you do your internship?

● CA firm,
● Government office,
● Public sector,
● Private sector
● Other

8) No. of days of your internship

● 15
● 30
● 45
● 60 and more

9) Who recommended the company to do the internship?

● College
● Friends
● Relatives
● Self discovery

10) What type of role/department did you opt to do for internship?

● Accounts
● Sales
● Production
● Marketing
● Human Resource
● Hotel management
● Flight attendant
● Other

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

11) What is the useful thing that you learnt during the internship period?
● Learning from mistakes
● Communication
● Being resourceful
● Other

12) Did you receive enough training to do the job effectively?

● Yes
● No
● Maybe

13) Was your desired motive achieved after internship?

● Yes
● No
● Maybe

14) How much did your internship learnings match your college textbook learnings?
● Totally
● Partially
● None

15) What is the major disadvantage that you faced during your internship?
● Language
● Coordination
● Support from seniors
● Lack of knowledge
● Other

16) How knowledgeable was the internship work?

● Very knowledgeable
● Somewhat okay
● Not very much

17) What are the changes in you after completing the internship?
● Practical skills
● Knowledge of work
● More experience

18) How supportive and comfortable were the colleagues during your internship?
1 Very good 2 Good 3 Moderate 4 Bad 5 Very bad

19) Was there any difficulties in getting along with your colleague?
● Ragging
● Senior dominance
● Racial discrimination
● Untrustable
● Other

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.538
Volume 11 Issue V May 2023- Available at www.ijraset.com

20) Did the superiors assign you to do other work which is not related to your core?
● Yes
● No
● Maybe

21) How did you manage your studies/work during internship?

● Keep track of routine
● Make notes
● Prepare schedules
● Other

22) Did you observe any character/attitude change in you after internship?
● Punctuality
● Adaptability
● Self disciple
● Critical thinking
● Team work

23) Will you continue the internship as your full time job?
● Continue
● Discontinue

24) What was the company culture in your point of view?

● Biased
● Stressful
● Transparent
● Inclusive

25) What will you prefer after your internship experience?

● Working independently
● Team work

26) To what extent did your expectation meet your internship experience?
● Learnt more
● Satisfied expectation
● Learnt less

27) How satisfied are you after completing your internship?

1-Highly satisfied 2-Satisfied 3-Neutral 4-Dissatisfied 5-Highly dissatisfied
● Certificate
● Practical skills
● Work experience
● Office atmosphere
● Support from superior
● Self development

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