Feature: The Importance of Internships

Today’s professional job market is highly competitive and with more applications per position than ever before, it’s important to stand out. The Careers Service at St Mary’s University, Twickenham explains the relevance of internships in the current climate and the benefits they can offer in terms of career development. Internships are an excellent learning experience. They are a proven way to gain relevant knowledge, skills, and experience while establishing important connections. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the job sector you intend to work in, and find out if working in an organisation is something you could see yourself doing as a full-time job. Asking questions is the key to learning in an internship and keeping yourself flexible throughout the internship can open many doors. Internships increase the chances of securing a job. They will certainly help make valuable networking connections that could prove useful when looking for a job. Remember to always make the most of your time in an internship placement. Companies recruit people who do the job well and who are pleasant to be around. So by accomplishing more than what is required in an internship and creating a great impression, you may obtain a good reference which could potentially lead to a great job! Internships allow you to learn new skills. A well-structured internship programme will enable you to learn new skills while enhancing the ones you already have. Getting involved with more tasks may open up more responsibilities, taking your learning to another level. Take a look at job ads and identify the key skills the employer asks for; you may be able to get more training and experience in that particular area. Internships boost CVs. An internship will increase the credibility of a CV; identify the key skills that you acquired during your placement and remember to add these to your CV. Undertaking an internship not only shows that you are keen to develop your skills, but that you are dedicated to progressing in your particular field of interest. When you leave the organisation at the end of the internship, ask if you can use their contact details as a reference on your CV. Research and prepare for an internship. Before accepting a placement, always make sure you understand the hours involved and get a feel for the work you will be asked to do. It’s always good to ask what a typical day may be like during the interview stage. Search online for reviews by previous interns to learn how the company manages placements. Research the organisation carefully. What sort of reputation does it have among staff and customers or service-users? Look at the company website and annual report and search for news about its directors. If you know who you will be working with, look at their social footprint, particularly their LinkedIn or Twitter profiles, find out what groups they belong to and where have they worked in the past. Remember. Internships can guide you towards the stepping stones essential for building a fulfilling career path. Visit the Careers Resources page on SIMMSpace for further tips on internships or contact careers@stmarys.ac.uk.