Getting into the world of work can feel like a challenge. Employers want you to demonstrate your skills and employability, but without somebody taking a chance on you, how do you gain these skills?
The answer may come in the form of an internship. In this guide we’re exploring how to get an internship and make a breakthrough in the world of work.
Internships and work experience are excellent schemes that have helped millions of people find employment and test whether they want to work in a specific role!
What Is An Internship?
Internships are structured learning experiences that allow individuals to apply theoretical knowledge gained in academic settings to real-world work environments, helping them bridge the gap between education and employment.
An internship is a temporary work experience program typically offered by employers to students or recent graduates, providing them with an opportunity to gain practical experience, explore career paths, and develop professional skills in a specific industry or field.
Internships vary in duration, scope, and structure, but they generally involve hands-on work under the supervision of experienced professionals. Interns may engage in a range of tasks and projects relevant to their field of study or career interests, such as research, data analysis, project management, client interactions, and administrative support. Throughout the internship, interns receive mentorship, feedback, and guidance from supervisors and existing employees, allowing them to learn and grow in their roles.
Some internships are intended to become full-time permanent positions at the end, but it depends on the specific type of internship.
Types of Internship
What are some of the types of internships out there today? Not everybody is in the same position when they are looking for internships, and people from all different educational backgrounds and levels of experience may still be looking to become interns.
Industry Specific Internships
Some internships are tailored to specific industries or sectors, offering participants the opportunity to gain specialised experience and insights into particular fields of interest. Examples of industry-specific internships include finance internships, marketing internships, technology internships, healthcare internships, and engineering internships.
You can see why certain industries require people to get experience before you are doing the job solo. These internships provide participants with exposure to industry-specific practices, trends, and challenges, helping them develop industry-relevant skills and knowledge.
Summer Internships
Summer internships are short-term work experience programs typically offered during the summer months, often targeted at students or recent graduates seeking opportunities to gain practical experience and explore career options during their summer breaks.
Summer internships often vary in duration, ranging from a few weeks to a few months, and they may be full-time or part-time depending on the employer's needs and the intern's availability.
Graduate Internships
Even graduates need internships. Graduate internships are targeted at recent graduates or individuals who have completed their undergraduate or postgraduate studies. These internships provide graduates with practical work experience in their chosen field, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a professional setting.
Graduate internships may be offered by companies, government agencies, non-profit organisations, and research institutions. They are almost always paid opportunities. Most graduates will be relieved to learn this after years of paying for their education.
As well as graduate internships, a lot of big companies run “graduate schemes” which are similar, but are usually offered to prepare somebody for a specific job role.
Virtual Internships
The modern age of work has adapted to modern technology. Virtual internships, also known as remote or online internships, allow individuals to gain work experience and skills development opportunities without being physically present in a traditional office setting.
These internships are conducted remotely, with interns working from home or any location with internet access.
Virtual internships leverage technology and digital platforms to facilitate communication, collaboration, and project work, enabling participants to engage in meaningful work experiences from anywhere in the world.
Some of these internships are not really work positions and are offered as training methods more than anything, so be sure you check when applying. Virtual internships from big companies can often provide a way for people to improve their workplace skills.
What Does An Intern Do?
Being an intern always means that you are not a permanent employee of a company. It can mean that you are learning while on the job or it can also mean that you are simply shadowing somebody in the industry for experience.
Different companies have different forms of internship, and it can vary slightly, but an intern is always a similar thing, and a junior position in a company.
How Long is an Internship?
Internships can vary hugely, some are as short as a few weeks while some are a full year or even longer. Of course, it is still crucial to know your work rights when you are carrying out an internship so that you are paid correctly.
Of course, some internships give you a clue regarding their length. Summer internships aren’t likely to be more than a few months.
Internship lengths should be outlined from the start, so you should have transparency before you accept any form of internship, and know how long you are likely to spend on the process.
Importance of Getting Work Experience
Knowing how to find work experience and internships can be tough, but the benefits of doing so are clear.
Internships provide participants with valuable hands-on experience in their chosen field, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge gained in academic settings to real-world work environments. Interns have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, tasks, and assignments under the guidance of experienced pros, gaining practical skills and insights that are invaluable for future career success.
A lot of people think of the benefits to the business, and the benefits for your CV, but there are other ways that work experience can help.
Work experience can be a way for individuals to explore different career paths, industries, and roles, helping them clarify their interests, strengths, and career goals. By gaining exposure to various aspects of a particular field through internships, individuals can make more informed decisions about their future career paths and academic pursuits.
Internships often serve as a pathway to employment, with many companies offering full-time job opportunities to successful interns. By demonstrating their value, commitment, and potential during internships, individuals can increase their chances of securing job offers or referrals for future employment opportunities within the same business or industry.
Do Interns Get Paid?
Intern pay has been the subject of some debate. Historically, some workplaces have used intern schemes to get cheap or free labour, but the law is very clear now and states that, unless someone falls into a very specific set of categories, they should be paid.
The exceptions are:
- Work experience students of compulsory school age are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
- Workers who are working for a charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or a statutory body. Or if they they do not get paid, except for limited benefits (for example reasonable travel or lunch expenses)
- The employer does not have to pay the minimum wage if an internship only involves shadowing an employee, meaning no work is carried out by the intern and they are only observing.
Work experience salaries can vary depending on the industry they are in, among other factors such as where the internship is.
| 📊Internship Ranking | 🏭Industry | 🤑Average salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Banking | £32,666/year |
| #2 | Technology | £26,500/year |
| #3 | Financial Services | £24,420/year |
| #4 | Business | £25,413/year |
| #5 | Marketing | £21,306/year |
| #6 | Design | £21,004/year |
| #7 | Engineering | £24,420/year |
A lot of internships start at pretty low rates of pay. Pay is also lower for people who are under 22 years of age in the UK which can be frustrating for internships. Young people are often paid less while they are interns at a business.
Interns can be all different ages, though, and this is important to remember. Internship schemes have often been aimed at young people but they are also helpful for things like retraining in your career.
Help With Your Internship Application
Superprof can connect you to a number of tutors to help you to work on your CV and improve your prospects of getting accepted for an internship. Many of the same tutors may also be able to help you to put together a convincing and impressive cover letter.
Some tutors also specialise in interview skills, this can help you to build your confidence before talking to your work experience bosses and to try and secure the very best spot you can.
Many of the Superprof tutors offer lessons either in-person or online, with some offering the first lesson free of charge. Find a Superprof tutor in your area today to help with your goals of getting accepted into an internship programme.
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