What are internships?
An internship is a time limited work experience placement, which usually includes an element of training. Graduate internships are therefore a flexible way to attract talent to your business for a specific period of time. They should offer a genuine work experience opportunity, giving graduates the chance to enhance their employability and career prospects. They are not a substitute for permanent jobs.
The internships offered through Graduate Talent Pool will typically last around three months, but could be shorter or longer to suit your needs.
Types of internship
Internships can be:
- in the private, public or third sectors
- part time or full time
They could be designed with a specific project or piece of work in mind, or offer graduates a varied programme of work experience. Typical projects undertaken by graduates include:
- marketing and market research
- developing IT systems
- design and implementation of databases
- creating a website
- research and development
- writing new software
- reviewing work processes and efficiency
Offering graduate internships could also be:
- part of your wider talent attraction strategy
- part of your Corporate Social Responsibility commitment
Whichever type of internship your organisation offers, it should be structured to maximise the opportunity it presents to both you and the graduate.
You should also ensure that any internship you offer conforms to legal requirements. See ‘what are my responsibilities’ for information about the national minimum wage, employment contracts and more.
