What is an Internship?
An internship is an official program offered by an employer to potential employees. Interns work either
part time or full time at a company for a certain period of time. Internships are most popular with
undergraduates or graduate students who work between one to four months and have a goal to gain
practical work or research related experience.
The modern concept of internships essentially springs from the medieval apprenticeship, in which skilled
laborers (often craftsmen) would teach a young person their trade and, in exchange, that person would
agree to work for the teacher for a certain length of time.
What is the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship
The main difference between an apprenticeship and an internship is that internships are more
exploratory. You're not bound to work for your employer after the internship is over (although many
interns do receive job offers). If you start early enough to do a few internships throughout college, you can
use the first ones to get a feel for what career you'd like to pursue and the later ones to build your
experience.
What is the difference between paid and unpaid internships
Internships can be paid or unpaid — though, if they are unpaid, they’re usually subject to stringent labor
guidelines. In the U.S., federal law mandates that unpaid interns must not benefit the company
economically or be used to displace the work done by paid employees. Some states have their own
regulations regarding interns. For example, in California, unpaid interns must receive college credit for
their work.
Most American internships are work experience internships — essentially on-the-job training in a field that
the student or young worker wants to learn more about. But there are also research internships, more
common in scientific fields, in which a higher-level student examines a particular topic on behalf of a
business before producing a written study or presentation.
Though employment isn’t guaranteed at the end of an internship, many employers use internships as a
way to train and evaluate future employees. In fact, a 2009 NACE survey of U.S. employers with interns
found that 67% of those interns were given job offers after their terms were complete.
What is an internship? The Random House Dictionary defines the
The benefits to completing an internship are endless. They provide
invaluable insights into roles and industries, help you to gain
transferable skills and make job applications stand out to employers
What is an internship?
An internship is a period of work experience, offered by an organisation, usually lasting
for a fixed, limited period of time. They are typically undertaken by students and
graduates looking to gain relevant skills and experience in a particular field.
Employers frequently use these placements to assess a student's or graduate's
capability and often recruit employees from their interns rather than advertising their
vacancies externally. You should therefore apply for an internship which you have a real
interest in.
How long does it last?
Internships can last from a few weeks during the summer holidays to a year depending
on the sector and employer. Student internships tend to be shorter in length than
graduate internships. In the case of medical training, for example, you might be labelled
as an 'intern' until you progress to the next professional level.
Usually internships are not accredited by universities as part of courses, but may be
accredited or formally acknowledged by professional training organisations. For
example, experience gained on an accountancy internship may count towards The
ACCA Qualification, which is required to become a qualified accountant.
Are internships paid?
You should receive at least the National Minimum Wage in the UK if you're performing
the role of a worker. The vast majority of interns are classed as workers and you're only
not a worker if you're shadowing someone. The most telling factors of a worker are set
hours, duties or responsibilities. However, you should consider the arrangement as a
whole in determining your right to pay - work experience should be for your benefit, not
the employer's. If you're part of the commercial operation of a business, you're likely to
be entitled to payment.
However there are exemptions:
a sandwich placement that is part of a higher education course
work shadowing
working for a registered charity
undertaking work experience as part of 'Back to Work', or similar schemes with the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Related case studies
Alex Baum
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Vedant Gupta
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Elizabeth Truong
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Where can I find an internship in the UK?
To find internships in the UK:
search for internships on this site
Graduate Talent Pool - a government website designed to help new and recent
graduates find internships across the public, private and third sectors
speak to your careers service
communicate with potential employers via social media such as Twitter and LinkedIn
try your own network of family and friends to see what connections they have
contact companies speculatively.
For international internships, search:
AIESEC UK - facilitates international student exchanges through paid traineeships and
other schemes.
Absolute Internship - matches university students and graduates with international work
experience in elite cities around the world.
City Internships - leading provider of structured internship programmes in the world's
greatest cities. Placements are offered across all sectors including banking, consulting,
law, marketing and technology.
CRCC Asia - Internships - a leading provider of global internships in China, Japan,
Vietnam and the UK. They'll find your perfect internship, be it in law, finance, business or
marketing. Let them know the country and sectors you wish to work in and they'll do the
rest.
Haiwei Career - offers internships in a number of industries, such as business, trade,
engineering, finance and tourism.
i-to-i - spend up to five months teaching in schools in countries such as China, Thailand
and Vietnam.
ImmerQi - provides international internships in more than 200 companies in three major
Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
Intern jobs - a global database of internships and entry-level positions for students,
recent graduates and career changers.
Placement Year International - provides paid business, hospitality, sports and leisure
and teaching work placements for students and recent graduates.
Premier TEFL - spend two to six months as a first-time teacher in incredible locations
such as Chile, Spain and Thailand.
The Intern Group - leading provider of international internship programmes in the USA,
Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America.
Current internship opportunities
Find out which organisations are recruiting now and apply for your ideal role.
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What experience do I need?
The majority of employers will not expect previous experience of the working world but
they will ask what experience and skills you've gained through your degree. For
example, to do a graphics design internship you would most likely need previous
experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
As with many graduate jobs, the subject you've studied is not the most important thing
but rather the skills you can demonstrate.
How do I apply for an internship?
The application process can be as competitive as applying for a permanent job,
especially in industries such as healthcare, law, media, social care and teaching and
education, where experience is essential. Aim to apply at least six months in advance,
although companies may set specific deadlines so make sure you do your research.
Requirements will differ between companies, for some you may need to complete an
online application form, attend an interview or an assessment centre, where you could
be asked questions about your qualifications, skills and past experience. For other
opportunities submitting a copy of your CV and a cover letter will suffice. You can also
submit speculative applications to enquire about available opportunities, in this instance
use your initiative and call the company beforehand to find out who to send your
enquires to, along with their specific contact details.
While methods can vary all applications should:
demonstrate that you have the knowledge and motivation to benefit from the internship
outline what you can offer the company
emphasise why you want to work for that particular company
show that you match what they’re looking for in an intern.
Student Career Guide 2017/18
Set your career in motion with our digital magazine for students and graduate jobseekers
Visit
Is there an age limit?
When you think of an intern the image of a university or college student usually comes
to mind but while some opportunities may come with an age limit, often 18 to 25 years
old, not all work experience will be so restrictive.
If you're a mature student or a career changer it's best to do your research and check
with the internship provider to find out whether any age restrictions apply.
Why should I do an internship?
Doing an internship will:
increase your skills and knowledge
improve your understanding of a particular job or industry
show you other roles you may not have previously considered
help you to gain an insight into the way organisations operate and the challenges they
face
provide you with networking opportunities
give you and the employer a chance to 'try before you buy' and clarify whether this type
of work is really for you.
The benefits of internships can include:
payment, by law the National Minimum Wage is the least you should expect
subsidised travel or lunches
attendance at in-company training courses
a supervisor who might be able to act as a referee for you in future job applications.
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