6 Differences between Internships and Street Vendors: Goals, Participants, Duration, to their Contributions to the Company

Illustration of an internship program at a company (Photo: Freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Internship programs (internships) and field work practices (PKL) are often considered the same, although these two terms have different meanings in the world of work. Find out the difference between internships and PKL in the article below.

Internship and PKL are activities aimed at adding real skills and experience. Both programs allow students or new graduates to apply the knowledge and skills they have gained during their studies in the world of work directly.

Although both programs are intended to gain professional experience, there are many differences between internships and PKL, ranging from objectives, participants, duration of program implementation, to contributions to the company.

The Difference between Internship and PKL

Summarized from various sources, the following are the differences between internships and PKL that you need to know:

Purpose

The main purpose of an internship is to gain real work experience, develop skills, and explore careers. This program is suitable for building a portfolio, expanding networks, or transitioning careers to new fields.

Meanwhile, the PKL program aims to practice the theory learned at school or campus to the world of work, as well as being one of the academic requirements. The PKL program is usually related to learning achievements and the curriculum.

Participants

Internship programs usually target active students, new graduates (fresh graduates), or general individuals who want to add work experience. In other words, this program is not tied to educational institutions.

At PKL, the participants in this program are usually SMK students or vocational students who are still actively registered at educational institutions. PKL is generally carried out in certain semesters as a graduation requirement. '

Duration of the program implementation

The duration of an internship can vary, depending on the company and the program. For example, the Impact Internship program is usually carried out for six months. While independent internships, the duration may only be 1-3 months, or longer if there is an agreement between both parties.

In PKL, the duration of its implementation refers to the Ministry of Education and Culture Decree Number 5 Tahyn 2020. In the rules it is stated that SMK students with a study period of 3 years are required to undergo an internship for 6 months (792 hours). Meanwhile, SMK students whose study period is 4 years, are required to undergo an internship for a minimum of 10 months (1,368 hours).

Supervision and assistance

The next difference between apprenticeships and PKL can be seen in terms of supervision and accompaniment.

Individuals who follow the official internship program will usually be guided by lecturers and industry supervisors. However, for the independent internship program, the internship supervisor usually comes from the company or internal mentor.

Meanwhile, PKL is directly guided by SMK teachers or campus lecturers, with structured supervision. In PKL, there is a report format, academic assessment, and official institutional involvement.

Flexibility

Internship programs are usually more flexible than PKL. This flexibility is seen from the schedule and duration that are more varied, as well as the focus on tasks that are more diverse because it will be adjusted to the company's tasks.

In PKL, the implementation of the program tends to be more rigid, because it must follow the academic calendar and have more structured tasks.

Contributions to the Company

The internship program requires participants to play an active role in carrying out the company's tasks. Internship participants can be involved in important projects, work on professional work, and provide ideas for company strategies.

Meanwhile, the PKL program, its participants are often in the observation and learning stage, so their direct contribution to the company may be limited. In this program, participants are given more basic tasks so that they can understand the workflow.

That's the information about the difference between internships and PKL. Get updates on other featured news only at VOI.ID.