Internships provide a great opportunity for graduates to get a foot in the door in their preferred industry, or even just to gather some valuable extra experience that can prove hugely attractive when talking to potential employers.
For entry-level candidates, experience can often prove to be a stumbling block for those looking to progress in a certain field. Internships can therefore act as a great way to develop and to experience life working in that particular field.
An internship not only enhances a graduate’s experience, making them a lot more attractive to prospective employers, but it can also provide great insight into whether or not the job, or even the industry, is right for you.
Day-to-day life
A career can often be very different to how you imagine it. On the outside, it may seem like day-to-day life in a certain sector might be very laid back, but once you experience it, you may find that it is actually the opposite and that you are required to work an extremely pressurised environment.
For an employer, a graduate’s experience can often be the determining factor as to whether or not they are successful in their job hunt. They cannot always be sure that a job seeker’s personality, skills and attributes suit the role if they are yet to experience what life is like in the sector for example.
This type of experience and understanding of the industry is very hard to gather without actually being involved in the sector, meaning internships can prove vital to both employers and job seekers.
Strengths and weaknesses
Often you only truly get to understand your strengths and weaknesses when you are thrown in at the deep end and have to use your own problem-solving skills and experience. Education can provide some opportunities to develop and highlight them, but it is only while working in your desired industry that you will be able to tell whether or not it is right for you.
By knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie and how they relate to the industry you want to work in, you are in a much better place to make yourself more employable. Internships can therefore provide a great deal of information about possible career paths, while also showcasing the wealth of opportunities that may be available in related sectors too.
If you’re a graduate looking to kick-start your career, have a chat with Discovery graduates and see how they can help get you started
