You may be wondering: can I apply for internships after graduation? Is it too late to get an internship after graduation? With so much competition in today’s job market, securing a job straight after graduating uni seems like the best option. It seems to be the gateway to early career ladder success.
However, whether you’re looking to build your CV or expand your network, doing an internship after graduation is an excellent option, and it is widely possible. After all, we are currently experiencing an evolving professional environment as the job market changes and there is more competition. This blog post will discuss the types of internships you can do after graduation, the benefits of doing internships, possible drawbacks, and the essential skills you can learn from them.
What types of internships can I do after graduation, and where can I find them?
Internships offer insights into the professional life you could lead in your long-term career, a chance to test the waters and see what you want to pursue. We advise you to apply to as many internships as possible to increase your chances of getting one. We suggest this because, as with entering the job market, gaining experience must be worked for.
Fortunately, it is not too late to do internships if you’ve already graduated. Many large companies, including Accenture, offer off-cycle internships that are worth looking out for. Off-cycle internships are non-summer month internships that are often less competitive but just as valuable. They typically range from eight weeks to 12 months and cover a variety of disciplines. One example is the Marketing and Communications graduate internship offered by Accenture.
Research from Statista suggests that graduates must be better informed that they can do internships after graduating college. Whilst ‘can I apply for internships after graduation’ has a search volume of 90, only ‘31% of graduates begin internships after graduating college in 2023’. This insight confirms the need to raise awareness.
Can you do an internship abroad after graduation?
The Covid-19 pandemic left many students desiring to travel and embrace freedom after being denied the carefree student experience. Internships abroad have become an appealing option as they fulfil the opportunity to gain experiences that help boost professional skills, and chances of entering the job market, whilst seeing the world. Fortunately, this is also possible.
In fact, ’completing a post graduate internship abroad or domestically makes you more marketable to future employers—but that’s especially true if you complete an internship for recent graduates abroad’. Many organisations offer graduates the chance to do internships abroad. Opportunities can be found on websites such as Projects Abroad and Go Overseas. Some offer fully paid internships, including Premier TEFL, Deloitte and KONE.
How to get the most out of your postgraduate internship
Now that we’ve established you can do internships after graduation, think about how you can approach them in the most productive way possible. This includes how you believe they will fit in with your long-term professional objectives. After all, while it might be a stepping stone, the experience and insights you will gain can advance your career as a whole.
We advise you to see every internship as a learning opportunity and not one where you can expect to receive a permanent position after. Focus on the day-by-day learning rather than the exciting thought that you will secure your full-time job after and be free of entering the job market. To help control your expectations, find out whether the company has ever hired interns on a full-time basis. If they haven’t, you may want to re-evaluate your options.
What essential skills can you learn from internships, and what are the benefits of doing postgraduate internships?
Real-world experience
While academic learning offers a solid basis, practical experience enables you to hone your abilities, get useful insights, and learn how to negotiate challenging job circumstances. You may even be able to learn new skills or explore areas of interest that weren’t fully covered in your academic courses. Your desire to get practical experience also highlights a dedication to lifelong learning, and that you have a proactive nature and adaptable character. You become a more appealing candidate to potential employers as a result.
Skill Enhancement
According to a survey of 444 respondents to the subject ‘contribution of college education to graduates’ skill development in the U.S. in 2012, by internship participation’, ’48 per cent of graduates felt that their written communication skills were well developed as a result of doing internships. This compared to only 36 per cent of those who had not.’ ’35 per cent from 24 per cent was for verbal communication’ while ‘quantitative skills were 40 per cent to 30 per cent’. Clearly, those who did internships after graduation made a worthwhile investment. They appear to have developed themselves as individuals whilst gaining insight into their chosen careers.
Career Re-evaluation
Internships offer opportunities to discover if a new field fits your interests and strengths before committing to a full-time position. This benefit is in addition to adding something to your CV.
Networking
Postgraduate internships offer the chance to grow your network, make connections with people in related industries, and—depending on how well you perform—possibly land job offers. As well as networking, internships can provide candidates with opportunities to show off their skills to their new contacts. You may experience a sense of empowerment and fresh confidence in your abilities in a professional environment. In essence, the key to advancing your career is through networking.
Digital internships
Internships are not only available in person; they are also available online. If you’re looking for your next steps in learning, Graduate Coach’s Digital Marketing internships have got you covered. These internships are offered as standalone internships or as a part of the six-stage, one-on-one career coaching plan that we offer. They provide candidates with practical and theoretical experience in SEO and Analytics.
There are also platforms such as Bright Network that offer four-day virtual internship programmes in Business, Operations & Marketing, Commercial Law and Technology etc. They intend to give graduates insights into their fields of interest and experience to put on their CVs. You can find it by searching Internship Experience UK – On Demand.
Are postgraduate internships paid?
Due to the current economic climate, companies are increasingly encouraged to offer graduates something in exchange for their time and contributions. Google, for example, is listed to have offered ‘the highest paid internship in 2012, by average monthly based pay’ (at $5,9915)’.
However, not all companies have the budget to match this offer. Job site Indeed noted the average monthly intern salary in the UK for undergraduates and postgraduates is £1,821. Since postgraduate internships do not always pay as much as undergraduates, you must determine whether you can afford an unpaid or low-paid internship before applying.
How to approach the application process
Start with a stand-out CV
- Make your CV stand out by emphasising your relevant experiences, transferrable abilities, and desire to grow within the company. The more tailored you make your application towards that company, the more likely you are to succeed in doing an internship.
Create strong Cover Letters
- Draft a strong cover letter that details your desire for a postgraduate internship and your qualifications for the position.
Send Speculative Applications
- If you are struggling to find an internship in your desired field, consider sending speculative applications to relevant companies, both big and small. Express your keenness to work with them and why you feel it is worth taking you on. This approach indicates that you are committed to working within your chosen industry. It also shows that you have a proactive and hard-working nature.
Key learnings
In today’s competitive job market, any work experience that will help you develop skills and gain insights is valuable. Whilst we have addressed the potential drawbacks, we have highlighted that it is worth considering an internship after graduation. This is because it will help develop your skills and CV as you become ready for a more permanent position.
Whilst they cannot always guarantee employment, postgraduate internships can be a crucial step in your professional development. A 2023 survey conducted by the ISE noted that ‘72% of employers said graduates with an internship had better skills and attitudes’. Online and offline internships have made opportunities to learn and build essential skills more accessible.
With Graduate Coach’s help, navigating the digital world through our online Digital Internship Programme is a great place to start. You can also read Chapter 4 of The Student Book by Graduate Coach, under the heading ‘Now, let’s discuss internships’ on page 44.
Featured image by olia danilevich from Pexels
Written by Olivia Morel
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