The Impact of Internship Experiences on the Employment of Students from Political and Law Vocational Colleges

Background and Aim: In today's competitive job market, students from higher vocational colleges in political and legal fields face significant employment challenges. This study aims to explore the current employment situation of these students and the impact of internship experiences on their employability. Materials and Methods: The study utilized a mixed-method approach combining literature analysis and questionnaires. The questionnaire assessed students' employment preparation, professional skills, and career planning, using a Likert scale. It was distributed to 348 students across two legal vocational colleges, with a focus on ensuring content validity and reliability through expert reviews and pre-testing. Results: The findings revealed that students with internship experience demonstrated superior performance in understanding the job market, resume writing, and interview skills compared to those without internships. These students also showed greater proficiency in applying theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, proficiency in legal documentation, and information retrieval. Notably, internships significantly enhanced students' soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, while also fostering a clearer sense of career planning and higher confidence in their future career development. Notably, students with internship experience scored 36% higher in communication skills and 41% higher in resume-writing and interview proficiency compared to those without internships. Conclusion: Internships play a crucial role in boosting the employability of students from political and legal vocational colleges. The study emphasizes the need for these institutions to strengthen internship programs and integrate practical elements into their curricula. It also highlights the importance of incorporating career planning education to better prepare students for the job market and support their long-term professional growth. Institutions should strengthen internship programs, integrate practical career‐planning education into their curricula, and regularly evaluate internship outcomes to support students’ long-term professional growth.