Organizations enlist trainee and intern opportunities on multiple job portals. A fresher often considers both similar and may not understand the significant differences in the profiles. But, before we dive into the roles, it is crucial to understand the critical differences between an internship and a traineeship.

An internship is a chance to work with an organization and learn new skills. It may be paid or just come with a certification. On the other hand, a traineeship is a set duration under which an employee is paid to complete the task taught to them by their superiors or an appointed leader. 

Now that the differences are apparent between the two designations let’s learn more about the job roles.

What is a Trainee?

A trainee is an individual who is recruited to complete the tasks; however, they can work permanently with the organization if the supervisor or the manager approves of their person. 

A trainee learns new skills, gets monitored regularly, and often risks losing a job if the work progress is inadequate. The individual may even face problems in getting recruited at another organization if such a situation occurs. Additionally, a trainee is supervised under a probationary period.

What is an Intern?

An intern is hired for a particular duration at an organization to complete the assigned tasks in a job role. An intern gets to learn from multiple managers or supervisors and decides whether the company is a good fit for career growth. 

Additionally, an intern often completes the internship to receive a certificate deemed necessary to get higher or good grades during graduation or post-graduation. 

An intern often works on multiple projects simultaneously and may undergo an expanding workload. An intern gains valuable insights and builds connections, which are beneficial for seeking future job opportunities.

Key Difference Between Trainee and Intern:-

1. Education Qualifications

A person applying for a traineeship must be a graduate or postgraduate in a field desired by an organization. The person is expected to know about the concepts, commonly used words, technologies, tools, etc., with the job role.

On the other hand, an individual applying for an internship is exploring opportunities and could have a different educational background than mentioned in the job role. However, someone with the desired qualifications may be more likely to receive the internship opportunity.

2. Job Duration

An intern is hired at an organization for three, six, nine, or twelve months. An intern can get recruited with a permanent role after completing graduation. The intern may also willingly apply for a desired position at the organization, possibly as a trainee, on a job portal or the company website. 

On the other hand, a trainee has to complete a probationary period, generally set at six to twelve months. After that, the individual is either hired in a permanent role or relieved. As a permanent employee, the individual’s performance is measured quarterly, half-yearly, or annually. 

A trainee can leave the enterprise during the probationary period or even after getting recruited permanently after serving a notice period.

3. Compensation

An intern may not get paid for working at an organization. After completing the set duration, the individual depends on receiving a certification of completing an internship from the enterprise. Some companies offer paid internships in India with a monthly pay scale of Rs 1000 to Rs 15,000.

On the other hand, a trainee has completed graduation and often has the desired skillset demanded most in the market. According to Glassdoor, the average pay of a graduate trainee is Rs 3,54,775 and Indeed indicates that it may go up to 450000 per annum. It means a trainee receives an average salary of Rs 29564.58 and may escalate to Rs 37,500 monthly.

Conclusion – Trainee vs Intern

A trainee and intern vary in multiple factors, including salary, job permanence, minimum education qualification, etc. So, if you are applying for an internship or traineeship, you should first know the difference, as an interviewer may even ask questions about them.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a trainee and an intern?

Ans– The main difference between a trainee and an intern is the purpose of the program. A trainee is typically enrolled in a structured program designed to prepare them for a specific job or career path. An internship is typically a short-term, unpaid or low-paid position that provides students with hands-on work experience in their field of study.

2. What are the benefits of being a trainee?

Ans– There are many benefits to being a trainee, including:

• Gaining valuable skills and experience in a specific job or career path.
• Learning from experienced professionals.
• Making connections in the industry.
• Increasing your chances of getting a job after completing the program.

3. What are the benefits of being an intern?

Ans– There are also many benefits to being an intern, including:

• Gaining hands-on work experience in your field of study.
• Exploring different career options.
• Making connections in the industry.
• Improving your resume and making yourself more competitive in the job market.

4. Which is better, being a trainee or an intern?

Ans– Whether it is better to be a trainee or an intern depends on your individual goals and circumstances. If you are looking for a structured program that will prepare you for a specific job or career path, then a traineeship may be a good option for you. If you are looking for hands-on work experience in your field of study, then an internship may be a good option for you.

5. How can I find a trainee or internship program?

Ans– There are a number of ways to find a trainee or internship program, including:

• Searching online job boards and websites.
• Contacting companies directly to inquire about their trainee and internship programs.
• Networking with people in your field of study to learn about opportunities.
• Checking with your college or university’s career center for assistance.

6. What are some of the career outcomes for trainees and interns?

Ans– Trainees who successfully complete their programs may be offered full-time jobs at the company where they were training. Interns who perform well may also be offered full-time jobs, or they may use their internship experience to help them get a job at another company.