Internships and work experience programmes are becoming increasingly popular, serving a multitude of benefits to both students and businesses alike. Overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction of overall placements offered to students, businesses are now able to offer work placements again, bringing back a host of benefits to the business workforce, as well as the student cohort.
If you’re sat wondering what these advantages are, let’s explore!
Benefits for students:
- Competitive Advantage
Gaining work experience as a student is imperative, especially in a post-pandemic world where application rates are so high. Having a CV that sets you apart from peers is super important and something that will increase your chances of being hired and landing your dream job – because who doesn’t want to fast track securing their dream role?
- First Hand Experience
Real-life job experience gives you the chance to explore a variety of different areas that you may be interested in, which allows you to weigh up the sectors that you resonate most and least with in your chosen industry. Having a well-rounded view of these various roles will undoubtedly be helpful after graduation, rewarding you with a much clearer understanding of the career path that you want to go down.
- Building Your Network
Having a strong network can be helpful when it eventually comes to job searching, as this could even lead to a job offer from a connection that you have met through a work placement. Internships are great ways to build your network, especially by adding colleagues on LinkedIn where you can gain exposure and get your name out there to potential future employers. Having a strong network at the beginning of your professional career is invaluable and it’s great to continue these relationships after your internship ends.
- Securing References and Recommendations
After completion of an internship, it’s helpful to get feedback from your employer. This also offers the opportunity for you to ask for a reference or LinkedIn recommendation which are great to show future employers. It’s definitely worth asking!
- Build Confidence
Working as an intern sometimes means throwing yourself into the deep end, but this is not always a bad thing! Facing challenges head on and managing to overcome them is a great way to build confidence and self-esteem, with the effects of this not only affecting your work life but also your personal life too. Why not spark some newfound confidence and take the leap to find an internship today?
Benefits for Employers:
- Valuable Support and Increased Productivity
Taking on interns in your business can be hugely beneficial, one of which is allowing current employees to gain useful support on existing projects. By allowing interns to assist with ongoing company work, it can enable other colleagues to put their focus into more advanced projects, knowing that some of their other work is taken care of. This benefits both individuals, allowing work to be completed whilst teaching the intern key new skills.
- Mentorship Opportunities
Offering mentorship to potential future leaders in the industry can boost company morale and promote a healthy work culture. By knowing that you are helping to develop the careers of aspiring students, current employees may experience a higher rate of job satisfaction, boosting motivation and increasing effective team leadership.
- Excellent Publicity
Companies that offer internships and work placement programmes are often commemorated in the industry for allowing the new wave of professionals to gain key experience. Offering these placements can also increase a company’s visibility amongst universities, often broadening the employment pool even more.
- Employee Candidate Pool
Taking on interns can introduce companies to prospective employees who are well suited to their business, allowing them to assess the likelihood of the intern being a good team fit, as well as teaching fundamental skills and procedures that the company follows day-to-day. This could result in recruitment and training costs being reduced if employers decide to take on previous interns who have already experienced working with them.
- A Fresh Perspective
Often fresh out of university, interns can offer businesses a new perspective on their day-to-day procedures. With the growing presence of companies and businesses on social media, interns may be able to apply their technology skills to bring new creative opportunities that could boost social media marketing and online engagement.
Interested in applying for work experience at JHPR? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email with a few details about yourself, what you’re studying and why would you like to join us to hello@jenniehollandpr.co.uk
By Eleanor Jarvis