[638 respondents in their 20s] The No. 1 purpose for participating in internships is not 'understanding the company' but 'early selection' - As job hunting accelerates, the role of internships is also changing -

DYM Inc. (Read: DYM, Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Yuki Mizutani), which diversifies its business including web, human resources, and overseas medical services, as well as M&A and sports businesses, conducted a survey on internship awareness. This survey analyzes the participation status and objectives of internships based on the responses of 638 people in their 20s who have job hunting experience.

In recent years, recruitment activities have been accelerating in the new graduate recruitment market, and the timing of contact between companies and students is getting earlier each year. Therefore, we conducted a survey on the participation status and objectives of internships.

The results showed that the main purpose for participating in internships was "to get into early selection (48.8%)", which exceeded "understanding the company (46.6%)". This suggests that internships are strengthening their role not only as a place for company and industry research but also as an entry point for recruitment selection.

[Survey Overview]

Survey Period: May 7, 2026

Target Audience: Employees, contract employees, temporary employees, and students in their 20s with job hunting experience.

Valid Responses: 638

Survey Method: Internet survey

Conducted by: DYM Inc.

Over half of those with job hunting experience have participated in internships, with "2-3 companies" being the most common number of participating companies

Of those with job hunting experience, 53.76% responded that they had participated in an internship.

Regarding the number of participating companies, "2-3 companies" accounted for the largest proportion at 51.60%, indicating that many students participate in internships at multiple companies, not just one, to aid in understanding companies and making career choices.

Most common first participation period is early in the third year of university, with participation timing becoming earlier in recent years

The most common period for first participating in an internship was "early in the third year of university (April-June)" at 36.15%, followed by "summer of the third year of university (July-September)" at 27.99%, and "before the second year of university" at 13.12%.

On the other hand, among those who experienced job hunting within the past year, the proportion of those who participated in internships before their second year of university was 20.00%, showing a trend of starting company research and career formation at an earlier stage.

It appears that students' actions are also being brought forward in line with the acceleration of recruitment activities.

"Fully in-person" is the most common, but online formats are also becoming established

When asked about the internship format that is easy to participate in:

- Fully in-person: 41.54% - Hybrid of online and in-person: 34.33% - Fully online: 24.14%

Overall, the fully in-person format, which allows participants to directly feel the atmosphere of the company and its employees, received the most support. The reasons for choosing the fully in-person format were "easy to understand the company's atmosphere" (52.80%) and "can talk deeply with employees" (49.40%), indicating that many students value opportunities to interact with the actual work environment and people.

On the other hand, among those who experienced job hunting within the past year, the proportion who chose fully online was 32.30%, which was 8.16 percentage points higher than the overall rate (24.14%). This suggests that online formats are becoming a more familiar option for students in recent years.

Furthermore, the most common ideal internship duration was "2-3 days" at 48.59%. This indicates a high demand for programs that offer practical experience in a short period, rather than long-term participation.

Hands-on experience (work) is popular, supported by about half of students

When asked about attractive internship content:

- Hands-on experience (work): 51.41% - Group work: 37.30% - Employee roundtable: 32.92% - Company information session: 25.71% - 1-on-1 interviews: 22.88%

Hands-on experience (work) received the highest result, suggesting that students value opportunities to gain a concrete understanding of actual job content and work image, rather than just listening to company explanations.

Internships shift from "company research" to "selection preparation"

When asked about the purpose of participating in internships:

- To get into early selection: 48.75% - Understanding the company: 46.55% - Industry research: 34.01% - Obtaining a job offer: 30.56% - Job hunting practice: 17.55%

The most common purpose for participation was "to get into early selection" at 48.75%, surpassing "understanding the company." As recruitment activities accelerate, internships are becoming an important venue not only for learning about companies and industries but also for securing selection opportunities and aiming for job offers.

Considerations

This survey revealed that "to get into early selection" was the most frequent answer for the purpose of internship participation, indicating a shift in internships from being a place for company research to a crucial entry point for recruitment activities.

On the other hand, "hands-on experience" was the most popular content that students found attractive, along with responses such as "easy to understand the company's atmosphere" and "can talk deeply with employees." This suggests that while students seek selection opportunities, they also value opportunities to learn about the real aspects of a company and its actual work.

DYM Inc. interacts with a large number of students annually through its new graduate support business and its own recruitment. Additionally, the YouTube channel "Naitei Channel" provides information on job hunting and supports students' career development.

DYM's internships offer programs that deepen understanding of work and the work environment by including not only company explanations but also work that tackles real business challenges and opportunities for interaction with employees.

Going forward, DYM will continue to create valuable encounters for both students and companies, contributing to a fulfilling job hunting experience and recruitment with fewer mismatches.

YouTube Channel "Naitei Channel"

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNyyfaueYSnekYswF3d7qnw

DYM Inc. Company Profile

(1) Company Name: DYM Inc.

(2) President and CEO: Yuki Mizutani

(3) Establishment: August 2003

(4) Capital: 50 million yen

(5) Sales: 25.8 billion yen (21st term), 32.46 billion yen (22nd term)

(6) Head Office Location: 10F, Gate City Ohsaki East Tower, 1-11-2 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032

(7) Number of Employees: Consolidated 2,744 (as of April 1, 2025)

(8) Business Activities: Web business, Human Resources business, HR Tech business, M&A business, Overseas Medical business, Sports business, Restaurant business, Medical Solution business, etc.

(9) URL: https://dym.asia/