How can I find work experience and internships?

Susanna Davis, Careers Adviser

The session will cover..

What counts as work experience?

What are the benefits of doing work experience?

Internships

How to find opportunities

Arranging your own work experience

Different application methods

What counts as work experience?

• Sandwich/industrial placements• Work placements• Internships – summer, vacation• Voluntary work• Work shadowing/ work tasters• Vacation schemes/ vacation placements• Student societies – a role

The benefits of work experience

• Confirming your career choices• Establishing a network of contacts• Good for your CV• Up-to-date work reference• Gaining an insight into the world of work• Developing skills• Applying theory to practice• Stepping stone to graduate job

Internships

• One week to 12 months• Often structured opportunities in large companies -

business, finance, pharmaceuticals, retail, law, engineering, IT

• Deadlines Jan –March• Opportunities for first years• Other sectors may require speculative approaches –

international development, media, environment.• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/gettingexperience/firstyears

Examples of Internships (46)

Business internships – AON (Insurance)

Marketing assistant – Aspen Pumps

Corporate team internship – UNICEF

Law internships

HR internship - P&G

PR internship – The British Library

Software Engineering Internship – MBDA

Education internship – Hastings Pier Trust

And many more – some exclusively for Sussex students

Other work experience

• Part time & vacation work• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/search/• Voluntary work• www.sussexstudent.com/volunteering• Work shadowing• Work experience – speculative approaches• Student societies

How to find opportunities

In addition to our website, general websites include:

www.topinternships.com

www.prospects.ac.uk/workexperience

www.inspiringinterns.com

www.targetjobs.co.uk

www.ratemyplacement.co.uk

Additional resources

www.gradcracker.com – engineering, science, technology

www.w4mp.org – internships in politics

www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/internships.htm UN internships

www.lawcareers.net

www.bbc.co.uk/jobs - rolling programme of work experience

http://uk.oneworld.net/section/partners - 1500 global organisations (development)

International work experience

Do you research into:• The country• The application method

• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/international

Arranging your own work experience

• Contacts- friends, family, academics, personal tutor, previous employers.

• Alumni network: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/sussexplus/alumni

• Employer database – www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/researchingemployers

• Industry websites/journals/reports• www.Yell.com• Linkedin

Making Contact

Email • Allows you to have control over the information you give

the employer• Targeted CV and covering letter

Phone call• An initial phone call – find out if they offer work

experience and who you should contact.• Research the organisation before phoning.

Different application methods for work experience & internships• Targeted CV and covering letter• Application form• Interviews/ telephone interviews

• Important to research the role and the sector• Market yourself for that role

The Careers and Employability Centre

• Workshops – daily events, weekly programme

• 1-to-1 with a• Careers Adviser• Study Skills Adviser

• Vacancies – part time, work experience, internships, graduate jobs

• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

Tel: 01273 678429Email: careers@sussex.ac.ukLocation: Ground Floor, The Library