An internship is a dress rehearsal for a graduate job
Being an intern doesn’t just look good on your CV – it can result in a job offer. During the internship, employers test your calibre and, if they like what they see, they may want to keep you.
An internship is a structured placement involving work on real tasks and projects. The idea is that you gain an insight into the sector and develop skills for your future career. Graduate recruiters love internships – in the more competitive fields, it’s virtually impossible to join a graduate scheme if you haven’t done one. This is particularly true in finance, management consulting and professional services, but also in creative areas, IT and engineering.
Most internships take place in the summer and last from four to ten weeks, but others are available at other times, lasting anything from a week to a year. An internship provides an insight into the world of work, helping a student to transfer the theory they learn at university into practical experience.
Internships are formal schemes that involve proper work – you won't be the office dogsbody.
Internships provide greater depth of experience
At first glance, an internship may seem very similar to work experience. But internships are formal schemes that involve proper work – instead of being the office dogsbody. ‘In work experience there is a danger of the candidate being moved around from department to department where it suits the business’ needs,’ explains Shezan Aslam, personnel and training manager at the Ramada Plaza Bristol. An organised programme eliminates the problem so you’ll gain more from the placement.
‘We give our industrial placement students real jobs with real responsibility from day one,’ says Gemma Donovan, graduate and industrial placement co-ordinator at 3M.
‘A structured internship gives greater depth than ad-hoc work experience, where you only get exposure to one area of the business,’ agrees Sallyann Birchall, UK head of graduate recruitment at Deutsche Bank. ‘It gives you an insight into the workings of the company so you gain a greater understanding.’
Some organisations run programmes under another name – such as assistantship or work placement. Whatever it’s called, find out what you’ll be doing before you start. You should be involved in the work of the organisation – not just filing and making coffee.
Getting insider knowledge on graduate employer
There are all sorts of reasons to consider an internship – besides the obvious one that it makes you more attractive to potential employers. The beauty of internships is that you can find out what a job entails and what an employer is like. And it’s not just a case of trying one role – many internships involve rotations so you can find out about different roles within the department and the organisation as a whole.
‘Many people are not aware of the diversity of roles available,’ explains Shezan. ‘An internship will help you identify which career path you wish to pursue.’ The reality of a job is often very different from how you might imagine it – and an internship gives you a chance to change your mind if you decide it’s not right for you. Sallyann confirms, ‘It demystifies any preconceptions you might have.’
Large employer or small – does it matter?
While the majority of internships are undertaken at large graduate employer organisations, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also arrange placements. These offer insight into working life in a different kind of organisation. ‘There is a real opportunity for early responsibility with lots of variety,’ points out Jag Gill, marketing manager for Step Enterprise Ltd. ‘Input into future plans and company procedures will look great on your CV.’
A placement in an SME may be less structured than one at a large organisation, but you may be able to mould it to suit your interests. Finding an internship at an SME can be tricky but there are organisations that can help. As Jag explains, with Shell Step, ‘An agent will match you with a local company that requires a specific business or technical-related project to be undertaken.’ In addition, your careers service is likely to have contacts with local businesses that might run internships.
A high percentage of interns are offered jobs
Internships don’t just look good on your CV – they often result in a job offer. During the internship, employers have a chance to test your calibre, and if they like what they see they may want to keep you. ‘A year-long assessment is a powerful way to measure somebody’s potential,’ explains Gemma – and it’s true of shorter placements too.
An employer can learn far more about you during an internship than through even the most exhaustive interview and assessment programme. An internship also shows whether you suit the working style of the organisation. As Jag puts it, ‘Internships allow businesses to “test the water” to see if the student fits in well at the company.’
There has been a shift in recruitment patterns, particularly in large organisations, with an increasing focus on internships. Sallyann notes, ‘We now do penultimate-year recruiting rather than final-year recruiting. About 80 per cent of our interns were offered positions.’ Gemma describes a similar situation.
With such an incentive, it’s definitely worth trying to find an internship. Once you’re there, work hard and do your best to impress and you might be asked to join the graduate scheme. That would certainly reduce the pressure during final exams.
Finding a placement or internship
First you need to find a placement. Go to the jobs section of this site to see what placements are on offer in your sector. Your careers service may have some suggestions too. You need to get in on the act early, especially in competitive sectors such as investment banking, or if you want to apply for placement with popular, high profile graduate employers. Start looking in the first term or semester of the academic year.
The next step is to fill in an application, probably online, or send a CV and covering letter. Make sure it shows you in the best possible light and includes all relevant experience.
Next comes an interview and maybe an assessment of some kind. Do your preparation – research the organisation and the role and be ready to answer questions about your career choice.
Remember that most programmes are very competitive and employers want high-quality candidates.
Internship salaries
With student debt on the rise, there’s more need to consider earning money during the holiday. Some organisations only offer unpaid placements but an increasing number realise that interns need something to live on. Payment ranges from travel expenses to a decent salary so when you’re investigating placements and internships, find out how much you’ll get paid.
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