Summer Internship

si1503

Hi,

Has anyone here done a summer internship with a company whilst doing their degree?

I'm contemplating the idea of doing one this summer. Ideally I'd like to work in a financial institution either locally (Southampton) or in the city (London). Obviously the problem with going to London is accommodation, I'd also hope for the internship to be paid.

What would be the best way to go about applying for this? Just writing to the companies I am interested in directly, or am I best signing up with an agency?

Whitefiver

Hi,

My Son did this - again with a large financial firm.

His experience was that the major firms take as much care over selecting sutdents to be interns as they do selecting graduates to join them. However, at the end of his intership, they said that there would be a job for him at the end of his studies, and even held it for a year whilst he did voluntary work.

He is now well into his second year with the firm, and is 2/3rds qualified.

I am sure that your Careers Office would be able to help, but based on my Son's experience, if you want that sort of work, give it a go. Makes the final year more enjoyable knowing that you already have something in the bag at the end, in my opinion.

Yes, it was paid - but not shed-loads.

Best of luck,

Regards,

White

rikbar

Hi There,

I did an internship with Deloitte and it worked out really well. I applied to an office just within commuting distance of my mums house and drove there and back each day. A few others who have done an internship whilst I have been working here have moved into single rooms in shared housing, of which there are plenty available over the uni holidays.

Be aware though that you will get paid after you have been there a little while and as such you may have to stump up the rent in advance. All in all though the salary was quite good and paid for a great third year.

To apply basically get in gear now trawling all the company websites and places like Dr Job etc. The applications are open now and normally close end of Jan or thereabouts, others may close by the end of the year. I started planning and applying in September as many have limited numbers and, if they have enough already, they will not take you unless you really are the next Bill Gates. Almost all the big companies have recruitment sections on their website and details can be found there, agencies usually are not used for the top companies as they have large HR depts who are geared to grad recruitment.

Good luck with the applications, there is fierce competition for places, even worse than for the graduate jobs. If you get one though it will massively improve your job opportunities.

ftbworried

I agree with all the above advice. Also, check out your uni careers service- I got one of my summer internships from there. An internship definitely increases your job prospects (and your bank balance!). Get applying now, a lot of the good ones go before the end of January.

Good Luck

The_doomed

can i recommend edinburgh... many financial companies. royal banks, standard life, ballie gifford etc etc all based here and take summer students. also cheaper than london, just.

somethingaboutshopping

hello

I assume you are studying business with accounts and finance as a main discipline hence why you want a city internship?

The Big 4, with my business school at least, completed their internship selections before the holidays, and one of my friends now has a summer placement with one of them, which we all know really means a graduate position in the long term. The Big 4 pay LOTSSSSSS, and if you can get in its obviously great.

What I did was an internship during my summer of first and second year, with a small local company that I LOVED LOVED LOVED. I knew due to the size and local market conditions they could never offer Big 4 wages so when I went for my informal interview I took with me a proposal of what I was willing to work for. Although it wasn't an hourly rate as such, I worked out weekly what it would cost me to work and what I would forego as I wouldn't be earning the ususal student wage in a shop/bar. Although obviously it didn't seem like a lot at the time, I calculated this so that my living costs and a teeny bit extra were covered, and I just had to tell myself that the hours that seemed like I would be working for free would really have a secret saving value as this was time when I couldn't go shopping.

I was really nervous about basically demnading money at the interview, but I think alot of that is why I got the job........ forward thinking and all that. At the end of that summer they offerred me a part time position while I was at uni and just kept me on the same wage so now its worked out that I make a decent amount per hour. Plus we all know its kinda a foot in the door when graduation comes.

The main point of an internship, I think, is to reduce the chances of being skint as a job hunting graduate and increase the chances of being offered a position in advance, just make sure your living costs in the meantime are covered.

Lots of luck