The role of internships in career development

Getting a competitive edge over other applicants when applying for jobs can be a challenge. Any hands-on experience in a related job role can help, but how do you get real-world experience in your field of interest before securing a full-time job if you’re at the start of your career, or looking to change career path? It can feel like a vicious circle.

An internship is a good way to gain practical experience and boost your CV If you are looking to change careers or have recently graduated.  

So, what are internships? How do they differ from other types of work experience, and can they really open up new career opportunities? Read on to find out more.

What are internships?

Internships are a type of work experience that many students and graduates undertake to help them gain practical experience in the workplace to support their career development. Internships are fixed term positions within organisations that vary in duration from a week to a year.  

It’s easy to confuse internships with other types of work experience like work placements and volunteering.

Work placements are periods of work experience that students undertake during their taught course, which count as a module of their degree and usually last the whole academic year. Volunteering can provide valuable job experience, but is often less structured and usually unpaid, although many organisations now recognise they should at least cover a volunteer’s expenses.

Internships come in many shapes and sizes and should be paid, even if only a minimum wage, although some are unpaid. Timings and duration vary, but they often provide three months’ work experience during the summer months, either in-person or remotely.

Several websites, including Prospects are a good place to start when searching for internship programmes. The National Career Service lists ways to find remote internships.

Why do an internship?

Graduating from university is a big milestone.

At this point, some students will have already secured a job, perhaps through a graduate recruitment scheme. Others will have decided that further study, like a masters or even a PhD, is for them. But for many, thinking about job applications and professional development is too much to contemplate before the rigours of final exams, making ends meet, and enjoying end-of-year events, are behind them.

The summer following graduation is a popular time to get internship experience and the benefits of an internship programme can be multiple, to both you and potential employers.

According to a survey of profiles on LinkedIn by Beyond Academy, almost 9% of students do an internship after graduating. For top-flight universities, up to a third of recent graduates complete an internship before deciding on their future career path.

How might an internship help my career development?

Any work experience is valuable for expanding your professional skills and enhancing your CV, whether you are a college student, or have just graduated from university. Internships can give you:

• job experience in a relevant field
• experience of a professional work environment
• new skills and competencies, such as technical skills and teamwork experience
• a chance to test out whether you want to pursue a particular career
• an expanded soft skill set, including time-management and problem-solving skills
• networking opportunities
• access to potential mentors who can assist with your professional growth
• an opportunity to ‘try before you buy’. This applies to both the intern and the host organisation who may have potential openings for you if the internship goes well.

The importance of internships is widely recognised. Jemma Smith, editor at Prospects says: “An internship gives you the option to try a career before settling on it. Internships provide invaluable work experience. Whether interning in the UK or abroad you’ll gain transferable skills and vital industry connections.”

What’s it like to do an internship?

Doing an internship is a great way to find out whether a particular career path is right for you and helps you to start to build a professional network.

Sophie, a graduate in Media Production from the University of Sunderland completed her internship with a local production company:

“I really enjoy my role and specifically the relationships you build with people and clients. There’s never a dull day”she explained. ‘It has been challenging to learn in a more professional environment, as this was my first experience in those kinds of surroundings.”

Internships are always on a fixed term, so you can discover what drives you and find out whether a job aligns with your work ethic. If the answer proves to be ‘no’, the internship experience will still have helped you develop valuable soft skills that will enhance your CV, whatever you choose to do next. On the other hand, if it goes well, it could even result in a job offer.

How can I find an internship?

If you want to gain real-world experience in a professional environment and improve your theoretical knowledge or practical skills, an internship could be a good next step for you after Higher Education.

Many companies advertise for interns on their websites and larger national and multinational companies may have a structured programme for anyone they take on.

There are also providers like Milkround and Beyond Academy that advertise internships in the UK and around the world, giving you a unique opportunity to gain specific skills while satisfying your wanderlust.

Also, if you are currently at college or university, your graduate careers service should be able to help identify suitable opportunities.

At Sunderland, the University works in partnership with local small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). to provide access to graduate internship opportunities that align with your career choices and will help you take the next step towards a successful career.