Not
waiting to be hired, India's youngest interns are building
Extract
from the article:
The article highlights a fascinating and forward-thinking trend among India’s
burgeoning youth population. Every year, approximately 10 million students
appear for the Class 12 examinations, a critical academic juncture in India.
However, instead of following the traditional trajectory of simply waiting to
be employed after completing their schooling or higher education, an increasing
number of these young individuals are proactively carving their own paths by
taking up internships at an early stage. This movement reflects a paradigm
shift — India’s youngest interns are no longer content with passively waiting
to be hired; they are actively creating opportunities for themselves by
engaging directly with startups and organizations. These internships serve as
invaluable experiential platforms, helping them develop skills, build networks,
and gain real-world exposure that traditional classrooms often fail to provide.
Moreover, this incubation of talent at such a nascent stage
reveals a broader socio-economic evolution. The rise of internships among
school-going youth points to a growing entrepreneurial culture and the
recognition of alternative career pathways outside conventional academia and
government jobs. With startups playing a central role, the youngsters’
initiative to dive into internships symbolizes a more assertive and resourceful
generation that is keen to leverage every possible avenue to accelerate their professional
growth. The article subtly underscores that this trend could reshape employment
dynamics in India, offering a glimpse of a future where youth agency, skill
acquisition, and early exposure become the cornerstone of India’s workforce
development.
My
Take:
A. Of
Interns and Apprentices
"To Stay Lean, Startups Lean On Interns," as I articulated several
years ago, was more than just a news echo; it was a clear signal of the
tectonic shifts in how organizations harness young talent. Back in 2018, I
observed that startups, operating under tight financial constraints, found
invaluable support in interns who brought not only enthusiasm but also fresh
perspectives that invigorated the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The numbers from
platforms like Internshala, and the testimonies of startup founders,
exemplified how this symbiosis boosted capacity and innovation simultaneously.
Reflecting on today’s scenario where even school-level
students are stepping into internships, I feel a strong sense of continuity and
validation of my earlier insights. The younger generation’s willingness to
immerse themselves early into practical work environments reiterates the power
of experiential learning models I championed. This evolution also expands my
earlier argument — now, it’s not just startups leveraging intern talent, but a
societal metamorphosis where youth proactively define their career trajectories,
blending education with real-world immersion. It underscores that early
hands-on engagement is no longer a luxury but a necessity in the contemporary
landscape.
Call to
Action:
To educational policymakers, industry leaders, and startup ecosystems: It is
imperative to formalize and expand internship frameworks accessible to younger
students while ensuring mentorship and regulatory safeguards. By
institutionalizing structured internship programs aligned with school
curricula, we can nurture latent talent and bridge the gap between education
and employability. Let us collaborate to create incubation hubs, incentivize
startups to take on younger interns, and integrate vocational experiences early
on, ensuring India harnesses the energy and ingenuity of its youth to power
future economic growth.
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
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