Applying for an internship could get your career on track
It’s a worry for many graduates that the tough job market will hinder them from starting their career. Graduate jobs are getting scarcer and competition is getting tougher, even if you’ve got a stand out degree classification.
That’s why an internship might just be the thing for you. If you can’t find a graduate job, instead of worrying about what the future will bring or returning home, try applying for an internship, either paid or unpaid. Here’s why it will benefit you.
Enthusiasm
The best thing about an internship is that it shows you’re willing to work and that you’re passionate about the sector.
Internships can be low paid or even not paid at all, but if you go in with a smile on your face every day, employers will know that you’re not just in the job for the money.
Try to go above and beyond the tasks that your employers give you. If you make yourself available and helpful, your employers will soon be wondering how they managed without you.
Good impressions are key to internships. You don't want to make a bad name for yourself, so dress appropriately, turn up on time, and do your job to the best of your ability.
Many end up in full time employment
You might think that internships are a dead end, but many employers treat internships as a trial for a real job.
Impress them with your enthusiasm and treat it like a real job regardless of how much you are getting paid. You never know what opportunities could pop up at the end of your time there.
Even if they don’t have an opportunity for you at the moment, if they are impressed with you they could contact you in the future or even create a specific role for you.
Employers want to employ the right people, not fill the right roles.
Gaining an insight into the industry
Not only is an internship a trial for the employers but it’s a trial for you too. You’ll learn exactly what it’s like to work in that industry and you can decide whether it's what you want to do.
Remember that you’ll likely be in your career full time for forty years, so make sure you enjoy getting out of bed every day to do your job.
An internship also gives you the opportunity to learn about many different roles within one organisation.
If you apply for a graduate job, you could be stuck doing something that you don’t enjoy whereas an internship gives you the flexibility of narrowing down exactly what it is that you want to do.
Future employment prospects
Even if your internship doesn’t end in a job, having one under your belt should do wonders for your future employment prospects.
Why not ask the company to provide you with a reference? If things have gone well they should be happy to support you in your future career.
Internships can consist of menial jobs but they are well worth considering as a foothold on the job ladder.
Once you’ve got the experience, moving on to other jobs should be much easier. Having an internship to put on your CV is a great thing to have, as it shows that you have the experience to be able to cope in the workplace.
Kick start your career and have a look for available internships now.
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