Internships can be a great way to gain experience before you start seeking your perfect job. Should you be considering one?
When you're just starting out in the world of work, an internship can be a great experience. Internships mean you join a company on a full- or part-time basis and work for a set period of time, usually a few months. They're a great way to explore your chosen industry and gain the practical training you maybe didn't get from school or university. Commit to an internship, and you'll see all some incredible benefits.
One of the biggest perks is that an internship can give you a competitive edge over others. Employers like to see that a candidate has hands-on experience and can step into a role already having mastered the basics. Applicants with an internship under their belts stand out, and you may even be able to command a higher starting salary.
Work experience never goes to waste, and it's something you can add to your CV to make it more impressive. When you're young and job hunting, a lack of employment history can put some people off. Listing your internship shows commitment to your chosen career path, and commitment is something every potential employer wants to see.
As a newcomer to the world of work, you don't necessarily have the contacts you need to progress. An internship can put you in touch with people, and give you a chance to find a mentor. Mentors can provide you not only with the training you need, but practical advice on how to forge a career in your field.
Interning is also a way to ensure you really are happy with your choice of career path. The majority will find they are, but you'd be surprised how many interns discover they're not so certain. Seeing how the industry works from the inside can be a surprise, when beforehand they had perhaps been looking in with rose-tinted glasses on.
If you are happy that this is the path for you, you may win the top prize. Plenty of companies who hire interns are using this as a trial period, as a way of putting people to the test and finding the most talented individuals. For those who strike it lucky, there are plenty of internships which lead to a solid job offer. Within months of entering the world of work, you could already be well on your way to your dream job.
You gain a competitive edge
Work experience enhances your CV
You make contacts and gain mentors
It's a chance to make sure you're happy with your career choice
It may lead to an offer of work
