You can find where your interests lie
Getting some work experience will allow you to gain a better understanding of what you enjoy doing, and in what direction you’d like your career to go.
Undertaking work experience during your degree course can not only help you choose your modules once you return to university, but also which graduate roles to apply for once you finish.
“My internship gave me the exact opportunities I needed to discover where I actually wanted to develop my career” – SSE Intern, Danielle
You get to ‘trial’ the company
Before applying for a graduate role, you’ll want to know that the company is right for you, and that you’re right for them.
There’s no better way to find this out then through a placement/internship. Plus, it gives you plenty to talk about during the graduate application process!
“It’s a really good opportunity to see if the company’s a good fit for you” – GSK
You can return as a graduate
After you’ve completed your placement/internship, many employers will offer you a place as a graduate. After seeing what you’re like and how you work, they’ll know you better than any of the other candidates. You may even get to fast-track the graduate application process.
“It’s probably the best way to find great graduates, because you meet them already and you get to see their personalities and how they work” – Arup
You’ll gain valuable experience
And if the company isn’t for you, you walk away with practical experience in the world of work (that you can apply to any job) and a better understanding of where you’d like your career to go. It’s a win-win.
“You’ve got real-life experience of what it’s like to work, and you can directly apply it to any job you get after the internship” – the Royal Navy
