Guest post by Andrew Scherer, Marketing Manager at Inspiring Interns and author of Brilliant Intern.
This week’s announcement of the latest unemployment figures has confirmed fears of a further deterioration in the fragile job market. Perhaps of greatest concern is the continuing rise in youth unemployment: over 10% of 18-24 year olds are now out of work, the highest total in seventeen years.
With established routes into professions looking increasingly clogged, internships are becoming a vital part of every graduate’s career path. Internships not only offer valuable skills and experience but are ultimately a step on the road to employment. Genuine graduate internships more often than not lead to permanent employment.
Once you have got an internship it is important to grasp the opportunity with both hands. The more dedicated, tuned in and enthusiastic you are during your internship, the more likely it is that the employer will see the potential in you and offer you a full-time job.
Here are few tips to turn that internship into a graduate job:
- Even before starting your internship there are things you can do to ensure a successful placement. You should already know a bit of background about the company, but once you are offered the internship you should conduct further in-depth research. This involves more than reading the ‘about us’ page on the company’s website. You should read recent press releases, swat up on the latest industry developments, check out their social media activity and even Google your mentor.
- On your first day and throughout your internship you should be professional. It is important to prove to your employer that you have successfully made the transition from university to the world of work so turn up and leave on time and dress accordingly.
- Keep a diary during your internship, not only to note down meetings and appointments to keep you organised but also to make notes of things you do during your placement. This will be useful when updating your CV with specific tasks or articles, presentations and reports you produced.
- You may be interning for the company for up to 3 months so it is imperative to integrate yourself with your fellow colleagues. Therefore, show you fit in with the company by taking part in social events and office celebrations. This will also give you the opportunity to get an idea of how you are doing, and see if they have any insight into opportunities for permanent employment.
- Make yourself invaluable by offering fresh ideas, contributing to brainstorming sessions, using your initiative and volunteering for projects that interest you. If you have a talent for something that you think the company would find valuable then make it known.
- An internship is essentially a learning experience so be proactive, ask questions and show enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
- Always communicate with your employer about any issues, problems or questions you have throughout the course of your internship. Towards the end of your internship ensure you have scheduled a meeting with your mentor or boss to discuss your performance during your internship and whether you have a future at the company.
- It is also important to think about whether you want to stay on permanently with the company. Before making this decision you need to consider how positive the experience was, what your job prospects are, if you found the work stimulating and whether you got on with your colleagues.
Further advice on how to turn your internship into a full-time job is available in Brilliant Intern, the essential guidebook to internships. It is available online and in all good bookshops.
