Interns: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for individuals, often university students or recent graduates, who work in a temporary position to gain practical experience in a particular field or profession. Internships can be paid or unpaid and are often part of a formal education program.

• The company offers summer internships to college students.
• The interns worked on various projects to gain experience.

Denotes a person who is being trained for a particular job or profession, typically within a company. Training programs are usually short-term and focused on specific skills needed for the role. Trainees may be new employees or existing staff transitioning to a new role.

• The new recruits started as trainees before taking on full responsibilities.
• During the training period, the trainee will learn all the tasks required for the position.

Refers to a person who works for an employer for a specific period to learn a trade or profession. Apprenticeships are commonly associated with skilled trades like carpentry, plumbing, or electrical work and generally involve a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

• The apprentice learned the basics of woodworking from the master carpenter.
• He started his career as an apprentice in a local bakery.

A general term for someone who is enrolled in an educational institution, such as a school, college, or university, to learn academic or vocational subjects. Students are primarily engaged in theoretical and classroom-based learning.

• The student studied for hours to prepare for the final exams.
• She is a medical student at a prestigious university.

Typically used to refer to students or recent graduates gaining work experience in a specific field for a limited period.

• The company is looking to hire interns for the summer program.
• Interns are often assigned various tasks to learn about the organization.

Often used for someone learning a trade or skill from a more experienced person, usually over a longer period of time.

• He started as an apprentice to a master carpenter.
• The blacksmith took on a new apprentice to help with the workload.

Used to describe a situation where someone is employed for a limited period, often without the connotations of learning or training.

• She decided to work temporarily at the retail store during the holiday season.
• I'm working temporarily at this café until I find a full-time job.