Volunteer vs. Intern — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 11, 2024
A volunteer offers services freely, often to support a cause, without expectation of payment, while an intern engages in practical experience, usually related to their field of study, and may receive a stipend or academic credit.
Difference Between Volunteer and Intern
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Key Differences
Volunteers contribute their time and skills to organizations or causes out of personal interest, altruism, or community spirit, without the primary aim of financial gain. They can be found in various settings, including non-profits, community events, and charitable endeavors. Interns, on the other hand, seek to gain practical experience, enhance their skills, and often have a more structured role within an organization, which may be linked to their academic or career aspirations.
The roles and responsibilities of volunteers can vary widely, from administrative tasks to hands-on community work. Their involvement is typically flexible, based on the individual's availability and the needs of the organization. Interns are often assigned specific duties that align with their learning objectives, and they may work on projects or tasks that contribute to their professional development.
Volunteers do not typically expect any form of compensation for their efforts, though they may receive non-monetary benefits such as personal satisfaction, learning opportunities, and community recognition. Interns might receive a stipend, academic credit, or other forms of compensation, particularly if the internship is part of a formal educational program or aimed at professional development.
The duration of volunteer involvement can range from short-term commitments, such as a single event, to ongoing, long-term participation. Internships, however, usually have a predefined duration, often dictated by the academic calendar or specific project timelines, and are designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience within that timeframe.
While volunteering focuses on contributing to a cause or community and personal fulfillment, internships are more career-oriented, providing insights into a specific industry or profession and often serving as a stepping stone to future employment opportunities.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Motivation
Altruism, personal interest, community service
Professional development, academic credit
Compensation
None, possibly non-monetary benefits
Possible stipend, academic credit, or none
Duration
Flexible, can be short-term or long-term
Typically fixed, aligned with academic or project timelines
Role and Responsibilities
Varied, based on organization's needs and volunteer's skills
Structured, related to intern's field of study or career interests
Outcome
Personal satisfaction, learning experience
Professional experience, networking opportunities
Compare with Definitions
Volunteer
An individual who freely offers time and effort to support a cause.
She volunteered at the local animal shelter every weekend.
Intern
A person gaining practical experience in their field of study or career interest.
As a marketing intern, she worked on real client projects.
Volunteer
Can work in various settings, including charities, events, and non-profits.
He volunteered his graphic design skills for a non-profit's campaign.
Intern
Often part of an educational program, offering insights into a specific industry.
His internship at the law firm provided valuable legal experience.
Volunteer
Engages in activities out of altruism or community spirit.
Volunteers organized a beach clean-up event.
Intern
May receive a stipend, academic credit, or other forms of compensation.
The intern received academic credit for his summer internship.
Volunteer
Does not expect financial compensation for their services.
As a volunteer, her reward was seeing the community benefit.
Intern
The duration is usually predetermined and aligned with academic or project timelines.
Her internship lasted for the entire spring semester.
Volunteer
Involvement may be flexible, depending on personal availability and organizational needs.
She volunteered during the summer months when she had more free time.
Intern
Has defined roles and responsibilities that contribute to professional development.
The intern was responsible for managing the company's social media accounts.
Volunteer
A person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily
An information booth staffed by volunteers.
Hospital volunteers.
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
Volunteer
A person who chooses to enter a branch of the military without being drafted or forced to do so by law.
Intern
Confine (someone) as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons
The family were interned for the duration of the war as enemy aliens
Volunteer
(Law) A person who works without pay or who assumes an obligation to which that person is not a party or in which that person is not otherwise interested.
Intern
Serve as an intern.
Volunteer
(Botany) A cultivated plant growing from self-sown or accidentally dropped seed.
Intern
A student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.
Volunteer
Being, consisting of, or done by volunteers
Volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer tutoring.
Intern
A physician who has recently graduated from medical school and is learning medical practice in a hospital under supervision, prior to beginning a residency program.
Volunteer
(Botany) Growing from self-sown or accidentally dropped seed. Used of a cultivated plant or crop.
Intern
One who is interned; an internee.
Volunteer
(Informal) To compel (someone) to do something
We were volunteered to do the dishes.
Intern
To train or serve as an intern.
Volunteer
To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.
Intern
To confine, especially in wartime.
Volunteer
To choose to enter military service of one's own free will.
Intern
A person who is interned, forcibly or voluntarily.
Volunteer
To do charitable or helpful work without pay
Many retirees volunteer in community service and day care centers.
Intern
A student or recent graduate who works in order to gain experience in their chosen field.
Volunteer
One who enters into, or offers themself for, any service of their own free will, especially when done without pay.
The volunteers at the nature reserve meet up ever other Sunday to help its upkeep.
Intern
A medical student or recent graduate working in a hospital as a final part of medical training.
Volunteer
(military) One who enters into military service voluntarily (but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers), as opposed to a conscript.
Intern
(transitive) To imprison somebody, usually without trial.
The US government interned thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Volunteer
(military) A voluntary member of the organized militia of a country, as distinguished from a regular or member of the standing army.
Intern
To confine or hold (foreign military personnel who stray into the state's territory) within prescribed limits during wartime.
The Swiss government interned the Italian soldiers who had strayed onto Swiss territory.
Volunteer
(legal) A person who acts out of their own will without a legal obligation, such as a donor.
Intern
To internalize.
Volunteer
A plant that grows spontaneously, without being cultivated on purpose; see volunteer plant in Wikipedia.
Intern
.NET 2003 Developer's Cookbook (page 81)
Volunteer
A native or resident of the American state of Tennessee.
Intern
(intransitive) To work as an intern. Usually with little or no pay or other legal prerogatives of employment, for the purpose of furthering a program of education.
I'll be interning at Universal Studios this summer.
Volunteer
(intransitive) To enlist oneself as a volunteer.
Intern
(archaic) Internal.
Volunteer
(ambitransitive) To do or offer to do something voluntarily.
To volunteer for doing the dishes
Intern
Internal.
Volunteer
(transitive) To offer, usually unprompted.
To volunteer an explanation
Intern
To put for safe keeping in the interior of a place or country; to confine to one locality; as, to intern troops which have fled for refuge to a neutral country.
Volunteer
To offer the services of (someone else) to do something.
My sister volunteered me to do the dishes.
Intern
To hold until the end of a war, as enemy citizens in a country at the time of outbreak of hostilities; - an action performed by countries.
Volunteer
To grow without human sowing or intentional cultivation.
Intern
A resident physician in a hospital, especially one who has recently received the Doctorate and is practising under supervision of experienced physicians, as a continuation of the training process; a house physician; also called houseman in Britain.
Volunteer
One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will.
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.
Volunteer
One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; - opposed to conscript; specifically, a voluntary member of the organized militia of a country as distinguished from the standing army.
Intern
An advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
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.
Intern
Deprive of freedom;
During WWII, Japanese were interned in camps in the West
Volunteer
Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice.
Intern
Work as an intern;
The toung doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year
Volunteer
To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.
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.
Volunteer
(military) a person who freely enlists for service
Volunteer
A person who performs voluntary work
Volunteer
Tell voluntarily;
He volunteered the information
Volunteer
Agree freely;
She volunteered to drive the old lady home
I offered to help with the dishes but the hostess would not hear of it
Volunteer
Do volunteer work
Volunteer
Without payment;
The soup kitchen was run primarily by unpaid helpers
A volunteer fire department
Common Curiosities
Are volunteers bound by a contract?
Typically, volunteers are not bound by formal contracts, but they may agree to certain terms or expectations set by the organization.
Is it common for internships to lead to employment?
Yes, internships can often serve as a pathway to future employment opportunities within the industry or organization.
Can interns be unpaid?
Yes, some internships are unpaid, especially if they provide academic credit or valuable professional experience.
What is the main goal of volunteering?
The main goal is to support a cause or community without expectation of financial gain, focusing on altruism and personal satisfaction.
Can volunteering be considered work experience?
Yes, volunteering can provide valuable work experience and skill development, which can be beneficial for personal and professional growth.
How do organizations benefit from interns?
Organizations gain fresh perspectives and can accomplish projects or tasks that contribute to their goals, while also investing in the development of future professionals.
Can internships be part-time?
Yes, internships can be part-time or full-time, depending on the arrangement and the intern's availability.
Do volunteers need specific qualifications?
While some volunteer roles may require specific skills, many opportunities are open to individuals with various backgrounds and levels of experience.
Are there any legal differences between volunteers and interns?
Yes, there can be legal distinctions, particularly regarding compensation, labor laws, and the formal structure of internships.
How do people find volunteer opportunities?
Opportunities can be found through community centers, online platforms, non-profit organizations, and word-of-mouth.
What is the impact of volunteering on personal development?
Volunteering can enhance personal development by building skills, fostering empathy, expanding social networks, and increasing life satisfaction.
What motivates people to volunteer?
Motivations can include the desire to make a difference, contribute to a cause, meet new people, or develop new skills.
Do volunteers have supervisors?
Volunteers may have supervisors or coordinators who guide their activities and provide support, depending on the organization's structure.
Is feedback common in internships?
Yes, interns typically receive feedback on their performance, which is integral to their learning and professional development.
Can internships be done remotely?
With the rise of digital workspaces, many internships can be completed remotely, especially those involving digital tasks or projects.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
