The Truth About Internships – Advice For Students

Unsure whether an internship is right for you? Maybe I can help. From my own experiences I’ve put together this post about the pros and cons. During my second year at University, I was lucky enough to be selected (after applying for quite a lot) for an internship with Tinamps, funded by Sheffield City Council. This was an amazing experience and I got to showcase my existing skills and learn new skills at the same time.

Pros

• You have the opportunity to gain hands on experience
• Plenty of chances for development
• Internships can result in kick starting your career
• In some occasions, interns are paid
• Avoids gaps on your CV
• A great way to network and meet others who work in the industry you’re interested in
• There’s always the possibility you could be properly hired once your time as an intern is complete

Cons

• In many internships, some companies try get away with not paying their interns as they see it as free labour
• You may not be thought of as an equal member of staff because you are an intern (I also experienced this when I was employed by an agency in a temporary role – you can read about my temping experience here)
• Some brands take advantage of interns, such as just having them there to make cups of tea and do basic tasks
• It can be a patronising experience
• I’ve experienced an internship where I received no training or mentor-ship

The experience and skills you can gain are great. There is a lot of work to be done in terms of internships being understood. I was very lucky with my paid internship because I was asked back when more paid work was available on a fixed term basis. My advice would be to really do your research before agreeing to starting as an intern and ask as many questions as you can, to try get the full facts about the internship. Interning can definitely be beneficial, it just depends on individual circumstances. Good luck!