Volunteer vs. Intern: Know the Difference
By Hifza Nasir & Shumaila Saeed || Published on December 20, 2024
A volunteer contributes time to a cause without expectation of pay, while an intern works in a temporary position, often for experience and sometimes with a stipend.
Key Differences
Volunteers engage in activities by choice, driven by personal values or community service, without financial compensation. Interns, conversely, seek to gain professional experience, skills, and sometimes academic credit or a modest income through structured programs.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Volunteer positions are usually flexible, lacking a formal educational component, internships are designed to provide practical experience related to one’s field of study or career interest, often with specific learning objectives.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Organizations benefit from the altruistic contributions of volunteers, enhancing community service and outreach. Internships, however, are mutual investments; organizations provide valuable industry insight and training, expecting interns to contribute meaningfully to projects or operations.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
The selection process for volunteers tends to be less rigorous than for internships, which often require interviews and align with educational or career prerequisites, reflecting the professional nature of internships.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Volunteers can work with a wide range of organizations including non-profits, community groups, and public sector entities. Internships are typically found within industries relevant to one’s career path, offering a closer look at professional environments.
Dua Fatima
Dec 20, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Benefits
Personal satisfaction, community service
Professional development, possible career advancement
Dua Fatima
Dec 20, 2024
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Volunteer and Intern Definitions
Volunteer
A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.
She volunteers at the local food bank every weekend.
Hifza Nasir
Mar 01, 2024
Intern
A person working in a professional setting to gain practical experience.
The intern contributes to the team while learning about project management.
Shumaila Saeed
Mar 01, 2024
Volunteer
An individual contributing time to causes without expecting financial return.
Volunteers in the park help maintain the trails.
Hifza Nasir
Mar 01, 2024
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, to gain work experience.
She's an intern at the law firm this summer.
Shumaila Saeed
Mar 01, 2024
Volunteer
A person assisting in charitable or non-profit organizations.
Volunteers organize the annual charity run for cancer research.
Shumaila Saeed
Mar 01, 2024
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Intern
Someone engaged in temporary positions for professional experience.
The intern assists with research and data analysis.
Dua Fatima
Mar 01, 2024
Volunteer
A grantee in a voluntary conveyance; one to whom a conveyance is made without valuable consideration; a party, other than a wife or child of the grantor, to whom, or for whose benefit, a voluntary conveyance is made.
Hifza Nasir
Feb 27, 2024
Intern
An individual seeking industry-specific learning opportunities.
As an intern, he gained firsthand experience in digital marketing.
Dua Fatima
Mar 01, 2024
Volunteer
Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice.
Dua Fatima
Feb 27, 2024
Intern
A trainee involved in a program to enhance career-related skills.
The engineering intern works on projects under the supervision of a senior engineer.
Hifza Nasir
Mar 01, 2024
Volunteer
To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 27, 2024
Intern
A student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.
Hifza Nasir
Feb 27, 2024
Volunteer
To enter into, or offer for, any service of one's own free will, without solicitation or compulsion; as, he volunteered in that undertaking.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 27, 2024
Volunteer
Without payment;
The soup kitchen was run primarily by unpaid helpers
A volunteer fire department
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 27, 2024
Intern
A person working as an apprentice to gain experience in an occupation; sometimes the position is paid a salary, and other times it is not; as, a white house intern; an intern in a law firm.
Hifza Nasir
Feb 27, 2024
Volunteer
Someone participating in community service activities.
He volunteers with a literacy program, teaching adults to read.
Shumaila Saeed
Mar 01, 2024
Intern
An advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
Dua Fatima
Feb 27, 2024
Volunteer
An individual offering skills or services willingly without pay.
She volunteers her graphic design skills to the non-profit organization.
Hifza Nasir
Mar 01, 2024
Intern
Work as an intern;
The toung doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year
Hifza Nasir
Feb 27, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is it necessary to be a student to be an intern?
While many interns are students, some internships are available to recent graduates or individuals seeking career changes.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Are volunteers covered by insurance?
It depends on the organization; some provide insurance for volunteers, while others do not.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Can volunteering be considered work experience?
Yes, volunteering can be considered work experience, especially if it provides skills relevant to one's career goals.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Can anyone volunteer?
Yes, most volunteering opportunities are open to anyone willing to contribute their time and effort.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Do interns have employee benefits?
Typically, interns do not receive the full benefits of employees, but some programs offer limited benefits like stipends or learning opportunities.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Do volunteers get paid?
Volunteers do not receive payment for their contributions, focusing instead on altruism and community service.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Can volunteering lead to a job?
Volunteering can lead to job opportunities, especially in non-profit and community-based organizations, through networking and demonstrating valuable skills.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Can internships lead to employment?
Yes, internships can lead to employment opportunities, offering both experience and networking within one's field.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Do volunteers need specific skills?
Some volunteer positions require specific skills, but many are open to individuals with a willingness to learn and contribute.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
How long do internships last?
Internships typically last from a few months to a year, depending on the organization and the field.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Are internships available in all fields?
While most common in business, tech, and healthcare, internships are available across a wide range of industries.
Dua Fatima
Dec 20, 2024
How do I find volunteer opportunities?
Volunteer opportunities can be found through community centers, non-profit organizations, online platforms, and social media.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
Can I intern abroad?
Yes, there are many programs that offer international internships, providing global work experience and cultural exchange.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
Do interns always work for free?
Not always; some internships offer stipends, hourly wages, or academic credit.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 20, 2024
What is more valuable, volunteering or interning?
Both have value, depending on one’s career goals and personal values. Interning offers professional experience, while volunteering provides community engagement and personal fulfillment.
Hifza Nasir
Dec 20, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Hifza Nasir
Co-written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Hifza Nasir
