49% of young people (aged >30) go on to higher education. Back in 2015, 20% of these graduates received first-class honours – having a good degree is no longer the golden ticket that it used to be.
How do you stand out from the pack? Well, for some, an internship might be the perfect answer.
60% of paid interns receive a job after graduation. Only 36% of students who didn’t engage in extra-curricular work received an offer – almost half the amount.
But aside from a future job offer, what’s the point? Well, internships can build:
- Character. Often, it’ll be the first time young people have regular hours with responsibilities. It’s about being a part of the working world, and feeling valued as a necessary employee.
- Confidence. The process of applying for an internship and undergoing an interview can be intimidating. But there’s only one way to improve; by doing it again and again. You’ll never know if you don’t try.
- Skills. There are some skills that are universal in the working world. Communication, organisation, punctuality – certain traits can be developed just by working alongside people talented in their field.
- Knowledge. An internship might introduce you to a field you didn’t even consider beforehand. By throwing yourself in at the deep-end, internships provide a great way of learning what to pursue in the future.
Thankfully, the HMRC recently announced that they’re cracking-down on unpaid internships. That means more positions will allow students to ‘earn while they learn’.
I can personally attest to the usefulness of internships, as somebody currently working alongside the talented folks at Build Recruitment.
In the short time I’ve been at the company, I’ve already learned a huge amount about the recruitment industry, and the innerworkings of a professional office. It’s also been beneficial to my university studies; I’ve been able to apply my modules directly to the work I’m conducting here.
So when considering ways to bolster your CV, or occupy your time between studying, consider an internship. It could be the first step towards an exciting future outside of your comfort zone.