To Be or Not to Be a Graduate Intern?

Before applying for that graduate internship, take some time to reflect on these pros and cons.

At long last, you’re done with school – congratulations! You have your prep game on and equipped yourself with your resume, cover letter and portfolio. It’s the perfect time to dive straight into the deep end of the professional pool…or is it?

If you lack work experience, employers may be hesitant to hire an applicant that’s too new to the corporate world. It can also potentially hurt you as well – without any exposure to the industry or role, what if the role isn’t what you expected it to be?

One solution to this sticky situation is to start from the shallow end and dip your feet by taking up a graduate internship. However, while there are many benefits to doing an internship after graduation, there are also drawbacks you have to consider.

The pros: Why you should do it

To get your foot in the door

Employers may be hesitant to provide you with full-time employment as they have yet to see your full potential. Providing you with an internship may be more favourable for your employers as it gives them an accurate assessment of your capabilities and will allow them to be more confident of your suitability.

Think of this as a long-term strategy: apply as a graduate intern, and give the internship your all to leave an exceptional impression on your employers. If you succeed, and the company has the hiring budget – you may just be offered a full-time position at the end of your internship!

It’s actually quite common for graduate interns to be converted into full-time hires if they perform well. In fact, many employers find former interns to be a “safer bet” as compared to external hires. After all, former interns not only have prior experience with the company, but also already understand the office culture on top of having already demonstrated their capabilities.

Even if you’re not converted to fulltime staff, the experience will look great on your resume, and you can use the experience as a stepping stone to explore opportunities with other firms in the same industry. You’ll also walk away with the relevant skills, not to mention positive testimonials and recommendations from your co-workers or managers – though you’ll need to perform well in the first place, of course!

You can expand your professional network

An internship is a golden opportunity to grow your professional network – you’ll not only get the chance to work alongside professionals in the industry, but also get to learn about what they do. You may even get the chance to get to know them personally, which can be helpful for your future job search!.

To maximise your internship experience, participate in as many networking events as you can and make a good first impression by putting the best version of yourself forward. For all you know, a person you introduce yourself to at one of these events may just be looking for someone to fill a fulltime position in their department! So put yourself out there, and be on the radar.

Making a positive impression is a good start, but making a lasting impression is something you should aim for as well. Keep yourself in their minds by adding the people you network with on LinkedIn, but don’t forget to ask them if it’s all right to do so beforehand. Drop them a personalised message to thank them for their time and for sharing their insights with you too.

For an insider’s point of view

An internship will help you discover the kinds of roles in the industry that will best align with your personality, skill set and even your long-term career goals. It’s a great way to learn about how the industry works, as well as what’s expected of the different positions within the industry – especially if you’re shadowing a senior co-worker or manager who has rich experiences to share with you.

However, the onus is on you to be proactive and make use of the resources available. You may not always be assigned a mentor explicitly, but you can always ask someone friendly in the office to answer any burning questions you may have about the industry or workplace, or share some work life stories with you.

Avoid grilling a co-worker or manager when they’re busy, though! Office lunches, gatherings and networking events are typically good opportunities to ask questions.

The cons: What you should consider

The pay

It’s no secret that as an intern, you’ll be paid significantly less than your peers who hold permanent jobs. If you’re living independently and supporting your own expenses, it may not be a good idea to pursue an internship.

You also have to think about the commitments you have. Did you take up a student loan that requires immediate repayment upon graduation? Does your family need your financial support? These are some questions you need to ask yourself if you’re considering an internship upon graduation.

The role

It’s unlikely that your role as an intern will be as focused and specific as a graduate recruit on a training scheme. Instead, you’ll likely be given a variety of tasks that may seem insignificant, and you may even find it difficult to develop key industry skills.

If you feel that you aren’t gaining the exposure you were promised, you can ask your manager or co-workers to assign you tasks more relevant to your ideal job. Showing initiative and requesting more responsibilities will help you grow professionally, and may also impress your manager and improve your chances of being offered a permanent role.

You should also make sure you’re not simply treated as cheap labour. Interns are protected under the Employment Act just like other employees under a company’s contract, and should not be made to work more than 44 hours a week, or more than 88 hours over two continuous weeks. While it’s good to demonstrate that you value the opportunities given by an employer, it’s also important to stand your ground if you’re being taken advantage of. The trick is to strike a balance between knowing your rights and doing your job as an intern.