Developing Career Resources Through Work-Based Learning: A Qualitative Study on Internship Experiences

Work-based learning (WBL) is an educational approach that builds a bridge between theory and practice. While there has been much study on the effectiveness and success of internships in fields like health, engineering, and teaching, there is a scarcity of studies examining how internship experiences might impact the career outcomes of business students. Based on social cognitive career theory, this study aims to explore business students' internship experiences and their potential influence on their career resources. A qualitative research design was employed in this study. Two diverse focus group studies, which consisted of thirteen students in total, were conducted to investigate the participants’ internship experiences deeply. The findings were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Based on the results, two themes emerged: “internship satisfaction factors” and “career resources.” The findings showed that internship experiences make significant contributions to the career development process by providing vital skills, including networking, communication, and job searching, in addition to facilitating the transfer of theoretical knowledge into practice. The findings provide valuable insights for scholars and policymakers in higher education institutions and various organizations interested in establishing internship programs.