Internships are work experience programmes with employers that are arranged for a fixed period of time. They are normally taken by university students seeking to gain practical work experience during their time at university. There is not a set period of time they continue, however, they usually last between one week and 12 months. They can also be full-time or part-time.
Graduates who complete internship programmes are often favoured by employers after finishing university, as they have been able to demonstrate their skills in a professional environment.
Internships are available in a wide range of industries, from business, teaching, finance, technology, retail, marketing, science and many more!
Are they paid or unpaid?
Internships can be paid or unpaid, depending on the employer.
There are a number of internships that are unpaid. This includes voluntary internships, where the intern may receive benefits like travel costs, but are not paid for their work. This is more common when working for voluntary organisations like charities. Interns who are shadowing other employers are not required to be paid by employers either, so bear this in mind when applying.
Which employers offer internships?
Internships are offered by a range of different employers in the UK. During National Intern Week, you will have the opportunity to meet a range of different employers hiring interns. This will include:
- Amazon
- Network Rail
- PwC
- Royal Mail
- British Army
- Severn Trent
- Aldi
- Pfizer
- IBM
During these sessions, there will be the opportunity to ask about the different internships offered by these companies. Internships are offered throughout the UK in a range of different industries. If you want to learn more about the process and specific companies, sign up for any of our sessions today.
Are internships in-person or remote?
They can be either, or a mixture of both. Like lots of jobs these days, an internship can involve both working from home and being in an office.
Virtual internships are similar to traditional, in-person internships in many ways, but their online nature allows participants to work with organisations all over the UK, and also internationally. This makes virtual work experience opportunities more accessible and inclusive for all potential applicants.
Traditional, in-person internships have the possibility of excluding greater numbers of students and graduates due to a limited number of available placements and the practicalities of participating.
For both types though, the aim of the programme is to improve your professional skills and gain experience in a field you’re interested in pursuing as a future career after graduation.
Internships are offered in a wide range of industries too! From business to accountancy, engineering and there are even artificial intelligence jobs!
How to apply
This depends on the individual employer’s application process. Some might want you to apply through their website or online system, whereas others prefer you to apply through email. If you are applying through email, just make sure it is an appropriate email address.
If you want to find out more about applying, make sure you join our virtual sessions, running 26-30th September. In these sessions, you can find out how to apply and get tips for the application process.
Why should you do an internship?
An internship is a great opportunity to apply the knowledge you have gained in a professional environment, working with like-minded people. It is your chance to gain an insight into a potential industry you might want to work in, but it could also be a way of finding out if a particular job is not for you!
When are the application deadlines?
Again this depends on the employer, as internships don’t always run the same way as a degree where you generally start in September.
The deadline will depend on the type of internship. For example, if you are thinking of a summer internship, you will likely need to apply in good time during the academic year.
If you are thinking of applying for a longer internship like a year-long programme, make sure you check the employer’s website regularly to ensure you don’t miss the deadline!