What is the added value of doing an internship?

With the Internship Fair approaching on 23 October with the likes of Bloomberg, ICAP and Oliver Wyman attending, and numerous other internship opportunities on LSE CareerHub and in future events,  some of you may be sitting thinking ‘what is the added value of doing an internship?’ Well, there are several reasons why you may consider doing an internship, whichever sector you are interested in.

Here are 6 reasons to get you started:

Experience, Experience, Experience!:  Your academic teaching at LSE is important and makes you competitive for internships, but practical knowledge of an industry is what attracts employers. Think of it this way: who is more valuable – a recent graduate with little to no experience or one with one or two work experiences on their CV?

Industry Insights: You can research the industry online or in our Resources Area, but there is no more effective way of finding out if you like something than actually doing it. You also get all of your questions answered by your colleagues while being immersed in the field.

This leads nicely onto the…

Networking Opportunities:  Ever considered how to tap into the ‘hidden job market?’  One of the most common ways of finding a job is through networking. Doing an internship significantly increases your networking opportunities by connecting you with professionals in your chosen field.

Give yourself a competitive edge: The experience you gain will give you a competitive edge when you start your job search. You will have concrete examples of work experience to discuss during your interview. A guaranteed question during an interview will be about your work experience to date.

Develop the experience on your CV: A good application and a positive interview are ultimately what set successful candidates apart in the job search process. Internships help you prepare both by giving you the experience and skills to build a strong application and the confidence to talk around subjects at interview. When you discuss your knowledge, skills and abilities, you will speak from experience, not guesswork!

Secure a full time job: What better way is there for an employer to test a potential employee than through an internship? The “try-before-you-buy” model is popular amongst all sectors and can easily lead to a full-time job. In some sectors, for example Investment Banking, an internship is almost a prerequisite. Successful interns are frequently offered permanent employment after graduation.