Internships

Chrussell2

Hi

I'm studying an Honours BA in Marketing and I'm in my second year. I'm trying to get a marketing internship this summer but I am struggling to find any, either in Ireland, the UK or abroad. Does anyone know of anywhere I could find some paid internships?

Phantasos

I know this is exactly what you don't want to hear, but if you are serious about getting experience in marketing (or any area TBH) this summer, you'll have to start by adjusting your search to finding unpaid internships.

Marketing is a niche area, especially in recessionary times. Start by looking for volunteering opportunities with a charity organisation or something. I know unpaid work sucks, but that's how things are right now. Those months of experience will throw you to the top of the recruitment pile above other inexperienced grads when you graduate though, so it'd be worth it.

RATM

Chrussell - I work in graduate recruitment and we also organise summer internships for students. I'm afraid that what Phantasos says is 110% correct- you'll find it really, really difficult to find a paid internship anywhere these days. I am aware that there are paid internships to beat the band in Silicon Valley but you'll have to compete against the best and brightest from Stanford University to get them.

Despite internships being unpaid I'd advise everyone to do one at some stage during their studies- the labour market is stretched now so I'm finding that employers are looking far more favourably on graduates who have done one. We're also finding that a lot more students are doing them these days and it'll eventually get to the point where it'll be expected that you've at least some work experience in a chosen industry before graduating, especially for the better jobs.