Internships vs externships vs volunteer: which has better market value?

[Summers3]

An externship tends to be much shorter than an internship but of course, this is a case by case basis. Also, of course the closely related your experience is to the job you are applying to at hand is, the better it looks.

Also, what has more market value, externship, internship or volunteer experience? I hear that volunteer experience, even if its years of experience, is not as valued as much as internship/externship since internships/externships are more selective of their applicants (hard to get in, more exposure to things etc) while volunteering at a clinic or hospital is something anyone can do?

But in terms of time, how greatly is the role of length of time in a position is when apply to a job in your experience? Like for example if you are applying to oncology, you have one externship for a month in oncology versus someone who has six months or more experience in a different department than oncology. Which candidate would you think be more appealing for the oncology position?

I understand this is potentially a huge case by case scenario but I would like to please ask your experience about this.

Thanks!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Great question - I'm interested too.

Although I can't answer your specific question, we are the largest peer to peer nursing site and someone else will be along to help you!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I can provide some generic information - based on what experienced hiring managers are looking for.

Hiring managers look at RELEVANT 'skills', 'knowledge' and 'abilities' of an applicant - and try to hire the person whose KSAs are the best match/fit for the job. For instance, although a volunteer gig may not actually provide any value in terms of developing technical or clinical skills, it could be very relevant for jobs that require high levels of teamwork and communication skills.

So - the actual content and outcome of your program experience are more important than a fancy label. You may benefit more from a brief but intensive externship than a lengthy internship. Be prepared to articulate the K, S or A you mastered as a result of that experience... including concrete examples.

A hiring manager loves to hear something like "I learned that just listening to irate patients seemed to work out much better than trying to explain why we couldn't do what they wanted" rather than "I completed a stress management program".

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with HouTX. It all depends on the particulars. Hiring managers are looking to see if the experience, knowledge, and skills you have match well with those required by the job. As a general rule, paid positions out-rank unpaid ones ... but beyond that, it is a case-by-case judgment.

For example, I work in a children's hospital. How long you worked in a nursing home doesn't really count much in our world compared to how much experience do you have working with kids. Compare the new grad who was long term employee of an LTC with someone who did an 8-week senior level practicum in one of our peds units ... and we will probably hire the one with the 8-week peds practicum (assuming all else is equal.)

Also, never forget that individual hiring managers are people -- people with personal preferences and biases that might differ from those of other hiring managers. So there are no hard and fast rules about such things.

[RunBabyRN]

I agree that there are no hard and fast rules about this. Volunteering won't give you a lot of hands-on skills, but it can be great for networking and for interpersonal skills. One hospital I'm applying to has volunteers for the unit's pt check in, so volunteers have a lot of face time with the RNs and management. I know one nurse who did an internship there, but still didn't get a job (we now work together elsewhere, but she's been trying to crack into acute care since 2008, and still is having no luck).

There are too many variables at play here to say "this is your perfect path to a job." If such a straightforward path existed, I think most of us would be taking it! :)