You can find internships offered by employers in many industry sectors aimed at all ages. There are internship programmes for those new to work, including school leavers, undergraduates and graduates and for more experienced individuals with some existing skills and knowledge.
An internship is a fixed term period of work experience with an employer that enables an individual to learn the basic of a role and general skills needed at work, and experience what it is like to do this in the realistic day to day environment. It’s an ideal option if you want to try out your career ideas and understand more about the company and will help you build contacts and references for the future.
Internships typically take place during the summertime or during the usual school, college and university holidays. They can last for any period of time but are usually between a couple of weeks and 12 months. In common with a permanent role the internship might be based in the office, wholly remote working or a hybrid of both.
There are also supported internships for young people with learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who need extra support to get a job.
Vacancies for internships 16-18 are most often advertised by individual employers and for graduates there are several careers and jobsites that offer Internships as an option
Internships can be paid and unpaid. Paid roles are often but not always more common when the Internship requires some experience.
Interested? Tips to secure a successful internship
Get Ready
- Think about what experience you want and in what kind of sector, company and environment
- What can you offer the company
- Prepare your CV–even if you haven’t had lots of work experience, explain what are you good at, what kinds of skills do have from your hobbies, volunteering or at home
Talk
- to your school, college careers or work experience co-ordinator
- to family and friends, other students who have work or internship experience
- Visit careers services
Research
- Look at local or national companies that that you want to intern for and
- look online at websites that advertise internships for graduates like Milkround.com, NotGoing toUni, Prospects, and Target jobs
Target
- Follow companies on social networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook – show that you are interested and use thus as part of your research too
- Contact companies that interest you by sending off a CV and a cover letter
- Use contacts with existing interns
For more information :
- Find out about employment rights and pay for Internships https://www.gov.uk/employment-rights-for-interns
- Find out from the National Career Service about how to prepare a CV or a covering letter https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections
- Find out more about virtual internships https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/how-to-find-a-virtual-internships
- Find out more about Supported Internships https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/options-with-education-health-and-care-plan
