I have gained all of my internships through hard work, determination and sheer tenacity. I knew absolutely no one in the media world who could hand me an internship on a plate. I went to a state all-girls grammar school and contrary to popular belief, I found them incredibly easy to secure.
Why are internships important?
Not only does an internship add character to your CV, it also has additionally benefits that you may not have thought about. Firstly, your CV will look better. It will also massively help you decide whether this is what you want to do, you may find that you hate it!
Furthermore, they help you build confidence in the work environment and your potential to get a job increases by 60%. They are a productive way to keep you busy during holidays and most of them pay expenses and lunch, so really you’re not losing out.
I have never been offered a placement that doesn’t pay for expenses.
Myths about internships
There have been recent studies culminating in various articles about how only middle to upper class students get internships through mummy and daddy’s connections and how it’s not fair.
There were a number of factors that I disagreed with whilst reading one article in particular. I was irritated that it was very presumptive about the ways in which the students got their internships and how they manipulated statistics to sound worse.
The Debrett’s Foundation found 32% of private school kids enjoyed sought-after London placements, more than double of those who went to state school. Those from privileged backgrounds admit to using family connections to secure jammy work placements,
Firstly, are you telling me if your parents offered you an internship on a plate, you’d say no? If you have the contacts use them, but at the same time, don’t be put off by this statistic – hard work pays off, and it shows. If you can prove that you worked hard to get your internship, you look better in the long run and learn valuable life skills.
You’re not necessarily employed from the company if your given it on a plate, as you’re more likely to act bored and unappreciative of the opportunity.
Chief Exec of Debrett’s Joanna Milner then said: “Securing the right placement is difficult, considerably more so if you don’t have the right connections. There are so many candidates for the top graduate jobs — it follows that those with the best experience have a better chance of securing them.”
Yeah, it is harder, but so is getting a job, buying a house, doing most things. But if you work hard and really put effort in, make your CV stand out, phone companies, and really try, you will succeed.
Laziness is not an excuse. It’s harder, but if you’re proactive then you won’t struggle. Companies are making it easier than ever to get internships.
I genuinely don’t understand why people find it so difficult. No, I tell a lie, I do know why. The simple fact is: the people who complain about not getting them have simply not tried enough. They send off 10 emails and sit back and wait.
The fact is: an employer will spend about 10 seconds on your CV and they will decide in that time if you’re suitable. You probably won’t even get a reply.
To get my experiences over the 5 years I’ve been completing them, it took: 104 emails and 12 phone-calls. I received: 15 email replies, 12 emails informing me that they don’t do internships and 3 emails informing me that they do. Emailing generic company ‘info’ addresses won’t work a lot of the time. Conversely, from all 12 phone calls I got the email addresses of other people to contact. From this I gained 8 internships/work placements. Eight.
Yeah, it’s easier if you have contacts, but hard work pays off, and if you’re persistent and tenacious, you WILL get an internship.
Nobody said it would be easy, think about how many people want to get into your industry, but if you put effort and time into it, you will be successful. Just like no employer will hand you a job on a plate, you’re not going to get an internship if you apply to one on a whim with a shoddy CV.
But what about once you’ve secured your internship? Here are my top tips to remember during your internship:
- Be friendly! Sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how many stories I’ve heard from employees about bored/uninspired interns
- Volunteer for EVERYTHING
- Be as helpful and useful as possible, but avoid getting under people’s feet.
- Respect the employees, you’re entering their workplace afterall.
- Chat to everyone, find out as much as you can about each person, how they got to where they are, what their role is etc
- Make contacts, keep note of everyone’s names and add them on LinkedIn
- Get LinkedIn if you don’t already have it
- Appreciate and enjoy your time there, even if you’re not offered a job or enjoy it, it’s an experience!
