When students leave their studies behind, it can be overwhelming to find themselves suddenly thrust into the job market. Whilst they may have had part-time or summer jobs before, all of a sudden they’re expected to be making steps toward a ‘proper’ career.
Getting a foot in the door though, is often the most difficult part of pursuing a career: employers look for experience when they’re hiring, and newcomers can’t gain experience until they’re hired. All too often, this catch 22 has sadly seen students give up on their chosen vocation before they’ve even had chance to get started.
That’s where internships step in. Working as an intern allows industry newcomers the opportunity to pick up that valuable real-world experience that can be key to getting an interview further down the line. Simple things like learning about scheduling tools or a Twitter video downloader are a great example of what you’ll learn about on the job, but aren’t likely to get mentioned in a classroom.
If they impress enough whilst on an internship, they could even be asked to stay on in a more permanent capacity.
I can vouch for internships myself
I’m a huge advocate for the professional benefits of internships. Whilst studying for my degree some years ago, I took a short amount of time out to take up an internship at a sports magazine in London. It was a fantastic experience, which quickly saw my portfolio swell with published pieces and interviews. These articles would later show prospective employers that my work was of a publishable quality, and that I’d already succeeded in a professional environment – absolutely priceless experience that stood me in much better stead when applying for jobs.
I’d got lucky with my internship though. I already subscribed to the magazine in question, and spotted that they were looking for interns. Whilst focusing on a particular company and staying alert for opportunities can work for anyone looking for internships, it’s not the most practical way to ensure that you secure one.
Sign up with a professional internships academy
Thankfully, looking for internship vacancies is a whole lot easier now. Organisations such as Beyond Academy specialise in placing keen workers into roles that can help them get that all-important foot in the door. They offer internship positions in industries that are traditionally difficult to get started in, such as fashion, architecture, and TV.
Industries like marketing are popular choices now, meaning that any applications made will be up against hundreds of other candidates. Gone are the days when mentioning that you’re ‘computer literate’ will help to differentiate yourself from other applicants. Jobseekers now will almost uniformly be au fait with Microsoft Office, social media platforms, and maybe even Photoshop. When all the candidates look the same, whittling down a shortlist can come down to the small details.
Can you imagine then, how much a candidate with experience of international marketing internships would stand out?
Going international – the icing on a CV’s cake
If young career hunters have the opportunity to intern abroad, then they should absolutely grab it with both hands. Employers value flexibility and resilience in an employee, and what better way to prove these attributes than working in a brand new industry in a foreign country?
Whilst it shouldn’t make any difference in a perfect world, realistically a marketing internship for a big media firm in New York is likely to hold more sway over interviewers than a similar position held in Skegness. It’s a little unfair, I know, but any way in which you can make your CV look more impressive will stand you in great stead once you start applying for positions.
You may think that securing an overseas internship would be extremely difficult, but again, places such as Beyond Academy have relationships with multiple firms across the globe, making it as simple to set up a PR internship in Tokyo, as it is an advertising role in London.
For anybody torn between taking some gap leave or taking work experience, an international internship makes perfect sense. The locations on offer at Beyond Academy are all incredible places that you’d want to visit with or without an internship. Take a role in Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, Dublin, Barcelona, or many others, the decision is yours.
A short-term internship can create long-term contacts
As with any industry, knowing some people within marketing can help a great deal when it comes to securing long-term employment. Contacts can give you a heads up on new vacancies, or even provide a reference for new employers.
Luckily, applicants to Beyond Academy’s internships get to meet up with other interns in their chosen city, meaning that not only will they have scope to make friends and enjoy the social side of things that a city can offer, but they may also become valuable industry contacts in the future.
If your children are of an age in which they’re considering a career in marketing, make sure you have a chat about internships and how they can work for their career aspirations. Taking some summer shifts at the local fast food restaurant might line their pockets, but it won’t get them anywhere near as far toward their dream marketing position as a quality internship would. You can have a look at marketing internships on Jooble to find out more about the needed requirements to apply for, benefits and salaries if we are talking about paid ones.