WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP

An internship is a placement or time spent within industry. For some students, this is a compulsory part of their qualification, while others undertake an internship of their own accord.

So, why should you consider an internship?

An internship is a fantastic way to explore an industry, gain invaluable insight into the working world and make those all-important contacts which you hear so much about. There are certain industries where an internship, or unpaid work experience, is effectively the only \'way in\' for most people.

Most employers value relevant work experience because it shows that you have a real interest in their industry, an idea of what is required in the field and the determination to succeed. Having undertaken an internship puts you at a natural advantage to someone with a similar qualification but no relevant work experience when applying for jobs. In some cases, an internship can lead directly to paid employment.

A work experience placement can be a great life experience too. It offers a great insight into the working world which cannot always be gained from part-time work during term time and holidays. For some people, an internship offers the opportunity to live abroad for the first time, experiencing the work and social cultures of another country and meeting loads of new people.

If you know what skills you possess but are unsure of the exact job you want, an internship can give you a great idea of what jobs are available within an industry. As an intern, you will often get an overview of how an organisation operates and what roles are available. This can help you shape an idea of exactly what you want to do.

What will you end up doing?

This varies from organisation to organisation. If your internship is with a small company, you can expect to undertake a wider variety of tasks than if you were to work with a large company, as larger companies often have predetermined roles for interns. This reflects the wider range of roles that small businesspeople themselves have to undertake. Some larger companies, on the other hand, have schemes where interns move from department to department every few months to gain an oversight of the whole business.

While the old cliché about the intern making endless rounds of tea and photocopying hundreds of pages is rarely true, you may well find yourself doing a share of the administration, and possibly acting as a first point of contact with clients. If you are unsure of what exactly an internship comprises of, you should contact companies directly and ask!

Money, money, money…

Again, this is something you should discuss with the organisation before accepting a position. Compensation varies from placement to placement. Larger companies will often pay interns a salary roughly in line with the national minimum wage (in the UK, this is around £5 per hour), while many small companies can only offer a small monthly stipend.

It is worth bearing in mind that, while age discrimination is illegal, internships are generally offered to students and recent graduates and offer an excellent opportunity to get some valuable experience within industry.