Impact of Internship on Job Performance among University Graduates in South Korea

Abstract

This study aims to explore internship experiences and their influence on job performance among university graduates in Korea. The research questions are as follows: 1) To what extent do university students engage in different types of internships in Korea? 2) How do internship experiences differ by academic fields and institutional types? 3) Does internship experience predict graduates’ job performance, namely their job search duration, wages, and job satisfaction? This study used the Korean Education and Employment Panel Survey (keep) data conducted by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (krivet). In this study, the data was selected from 1,184 respondents who graduated from high school in 2005 and became paid workers in any sector after graduating from a junior college or university. Data from 961 respondents were used in this study. The results show that internship experience improved job performance; it shortened the duration to find a job and enhanced wages and job satisfaction. The effects on job performance, however, differed by type of internship, academic major, institutional characteristics, and working condition. We explored the actual internship participation of university graduates in Korea and examined its impact empirically, offering implications for individuals, universities, and policymakers.