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5 ways to spot a great internship

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Internships are a great way to gain experience in an industry of your choice; they give you the chance to learn more about a particular role and the responsibilities that come with this, or if you are lucky, you may be able to gain experience in a variety of roles over the course of your internship.  

In order to reap the benefits of an internship, it is important that you find something of real value that will give you the skills and experience that you can put on your CV and take forward in your career. They give individuals the chance to gain confidence, experience and build on their skills through real-life experiences. Internships will also give experience of what it is like to work inside a particular organisation and industry.

Here are 5 ways to ensure that you spot a great internship:

1. Consider well-known companies

Placement UK says that: It could be suggested that a bigger organisation may be more likely to have a structured ‘internship programme’ where the intern will gain comprehensive training throughout the duration and also potentially attend external training courses.”

Don’t be put-off from applying for a company just because they are well-known. These companies can offer you a wealth of valuable experiences and exposure as to what it is like to work within a well-known and often larger organisation. You can also benefit from having a well-known company on your CV. It is also important to consider well-known companies that you may not have heard about before; there are plenty of organisations in industries that you may not have considered before that will be able to offer you valuable experiences and skills.

2. Understand what happens afterwards

Becky Heath, co-founder of Internocracy says that:They should give you feedback and a reference at the end.”

A great internship will leave you with transferable skills that you can also add to your CV. It is also good to know whether they will be able to offer you a written reference or even employment when the internship is completed; this is not something that employers have to do, however, if you perform well and impress them there is every chance that they may offer you a permanent position when your internship is over. Otherwise, a written reference is a must!

3. Ensure that you will be paid

Ben Lyons, co-founder of pressure group Intern Aware says that: "Unpaid internships may seem harmless – beneficial even – but in fact the practice is hugely damaging.”

If you are working for a company and you have set hours and responsibilities then the minimum wage law says that you should be paid for your work (the amount will depend on your age). If your work is more flexible than this; for example, an observing role, then employers are not obliged to pay you, however they will often cover your travel and lunch expenses.

4. You will have to do an interview

Becky Heath, co-founder of Internocracy says that: "Good quality internships will be advertised publicly and candidates will be required to interview.”

Interviews can be nerve-wracking; however, they are a positive sign. If you are offered an interview, this means that you are being considered for the role and they are taking the application process seriously by looking for the right person. If a business is conducting interviews then this shows that they are organised with their recruitment processes.

5. Don’t write small companies off

Placement UK said that: “If you become an intern at a smaller organisation, you will probably gain more experience […] and be more connected to the essential company day-to-day practices.”

If you are unsuccessful with getting an internship at a larger company or if you like the idea of working at a smaller company to start with, then there are many benefits of interning with a smaller company. However, consider whether the company has ambitions and is run by people who know what they are doing to ensure that you get the most from your internship. Interning at a smaller company usually means that you will have greater responsibilities and therefore more opportunity to gain and develop particular skills. It is also important that you understand exactly what your role is going to be and what responsibilities you will have during your internship.

Here are just some of our members that offer internships:

Lloyds Banking Group - For University students moving into their third year, the Lloyds Banking Group 13 Paid Internship programmes offer the chance to set the foundations for a career before you’ve even finished university. Over 10 weeks, you will benefit from a unique training programme and progress in a genuine job whilst also getting the chance to make lasting connections. Up to 70% of LBG interns are offered a place on their Graduate Leadership Programme with no extra assessments, once they finish university.

Viacom - Viacom offer 35 exciting paid Internships available for 12 months starting from June for one year! They look for people with fresh ideas who want to work hard and get the most out of this amazing opportunity and in return they are the perfect launch pad for a career in media. Viacom’s Internships are available across a whole range of business areas including Consumer Products, Creative, Marketing, Technology, HR & Product Development to name a few. The Interns receive on-going training, mentoring, networking opportunities, career sessions and the chance to learn from some of the best in the business and industry.

Barclays - To get a sense of what it’s like to work at Barclays, experience it for yourself. Their Spring, Summer and Off Cycle undergraduate internships will immerse you in the work, culture and business. You’ll learn from Barclay’s people, while working on live deals and real business challenges. You may also take a significant step towards securing a full-time opportunity with Barclays.  

If you are interested in a career with any of our members that have been mentioned above, please click on their name in order to be directed to their current vacancies.

Vercida works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with Vercida to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please call 02037405973 or email [email protected] for more information.

We are also officially recommended by Disability Confident as a step on achieving Employer status, please click here for more information.

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VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.

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