Providing internship opportunities or ‘on-the-job training’ (OJT) to a candidate is the organization’s way of expressing its intent to hire that candidate and equip them with the necessary skills to perform in their job. During the internship or OJT, students get first-hand experience in the actual work conditions and get accustomed to the working environment.
Internships, On-the-Job Training: The Real-Time Experience
As mentioned above, internships and on-the-job training provide freshers with real-time experience to understand the structure and work conditions of an organization. Benefits of OJT training for students include the chance of internships and the added advantage of constant mentoring and guidance from experienced employees. Also, the trainees get to understand the pressure and feel the adrenaline while working on projects, interacting with clients, and meeting deadlines.
On-the-Job Training and Internships Prepares for the Real World
OJT and internships prepare trainees to ‘hit the ground running’ once they complete it successfully and fulfill the criteria to become full-time employees of the organization. Candidates who underwent OJT or internships are more confident, better equipped, and generally more adept at carrying out their KRAs. These features make the OJT highly sought after and relevant.
Internships and OJT: Fewer Targets, Low Risks with Stipend
Trainees always have a scope to learn and complete the work in a semi-competitive atmosphere, without the pressure of time and targets. In the professional world where there is near zero tolerance for mistakes and ineptitude, OJT and internship are perhaps one of the very few practices that allow the trainees to learn from their mistakes, without jeopardizing their career prospects. The icing on the cake is, of course, the stipend that the trainees get.
Hand’s on Experience
Since OJT and internships focus on experiential learning, the trainees get a chance to observe every step of their respective seniors keenly and focus on the project systematically, thereby gathering both the theoretical concepts and their application hands-on. This enables them to take on any project confidently when they are absorbed on a full-time basis eventually.
Internships and OJT: Enhancing Employability Skills
On-the-job training adds considerable value to a candidate’s credentials and increases their prospects and potential. OJT candidates also inculcate soft skills such as problem-solving and decision-making which are considered essential employability skills.
On-the-job Training and Internships at Tech Mahindra SMART Academies
All the Digital Academies, Healthcare Academies, and Logistics Academy of SMART Academy By Tech Mahindra Foundation help students to undergo internships or on-the-job training during their course period. At SMART Academy we know the importance of OJT training. We have special teams at our Academies that connect with various organizations to make sure that our students go for the OJT or internships at their premises.
Tech Mahindra SMART Academies helps the students understand the significance of OJT or internship programs and go for them. Since our students go through OJT or internship during the course period, they have the extra advantage of having experience even before they start their professional careers will carry that edge throughout their careers as they get the real-time experience and a necessary lift in the initial stage itself. They often attract faster promotions and better appraisals.
Placement & Alumni Cell – Guidance & Support
Batches that opt for internships or OJT are entrusted to a faculty member, who ensures a healthy and conducive atmosphere for their learning, and training and also to address any concerns that the trainees might have concerning the trainers or organizations they are assigned to. The weekly reviews by the assigned internship-faculty/placement officer with the trainees and the organization’s representative help the trainees understand the importance of OJT, the level of work, and the standards that are expected from them, giving them opportunities to build on their strengths and work on their areas of improvement.
Differences Between OJT and Internship
Both terms are used interchangeably, but, an internship is mostly seen as a particular type of on-the-job training. This means an internship is a type of OJT, however, not all OJTs can be called an internship program. Most internships are focused on the career-oriented development of students and are often unpaid training. On the other hand, OJT is primarily used to train new employees at varied levels and is a paid form of training.
Let us note the key differences:
Focus – Internships majorly focus on offering practical experience in a certain field. Internships are an important part of a degree college curriculum. The primary significance of OJT is that it is used to give training to employees for specific work or job tasks within an organization.
Main Audience – The target audience in an internship program is usually college-going students or those who have just graduated from college. OJT, on the other hand, is offered to newly hired staff at any level of career growth.
Payment – Internship programs may be paid training or even unpaid, depending on the providers. An OJT is mostly a form of paid work or training.
FAQs
What is the specialty of OJT?
OJT boosts your chances of future employment in the same organization or similar businesses due to your ready practical or essential skills and enhanced industry knowledge. Many employers hire candidates or students who have an OJT certification, as this confirms that they possess superior skills and competitive quality over others.
What is the duration of OJT?
An OJT program is specialized training offered by an employer to a student or a newly joined employee who is engaged in useful work that provides additional or in-depth knowledge and skills related to the job and its performance. The importance of OJT training lies in the fact that it is advantageous for both employer and employee. OJT automatically reimburses the employer (for the OJT training) by improving employee-on-job productivity ratio.
OJTs can be different for different work sectors. OJT duration can depend on the time needed for skill acquisition, the training content, the career goals of a trainee, and so on. The maximum OJT period for individuals cannot be more than 6 months.
Who is considered eligible for an on-the-job training program?
Any student with a graduation certificate from a recognized college or university can be eligible for an OJT. It is also called an apprenticeship across multiple sectors or industries. Students need to meet the specific regulations laid out by a company for the OJT training program. The importance of OJT programs includes their beneficial features for individuals from any field or industry such as business, IT, healthcare, retail, etc.
- For acquiring an OJT, graduation can be a mandatory rule.
- There is no need for prior experience, OJT is designed for fresh graduates.
- Depending on the organization and their training procedure, students may require specific technical skills or basic knowledge about the job.
- Some organizations may want trainees within a certain age limit for such programs.
What is the benefit of OJT offered by the reputed Tech Mahindra SMART Academy?
Benefits of OJT training for students presented by Tech Mahindra SMART Academies is that it offers real-world practical and hands-on training experience in a typical work environment. OJTs allow individuals to acquire essential skills and deep knowledge that is directly connected to their future job roles. This way they are more prepared than the others when they begin their career as a full-time employee with the company. OJT can effortlessly bridge the gap between mere theory-based learning and real hands-on experience.
