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.

The pros: Why you should do it

1. To get your foot in the door

Regardless of whether you do an internship before or after you graduate, you can get your foot in the door at the company and/or industry you want to work in.

Think of this as a long-term strategy – apply as a graduate intern, and give the internship your all to make an exceptional impression with your employers. If your manager likes you, you may just get a full-time job offer at the end of your internship!

It is not uncommon for graduate interns to be converted into full-time hires if they perform well. In fact, many employers find former interns a “safer bet” compared to external candidates. After all, those with prior experience with the company already have an understanding of the office culture, and have demonstrated their capabilities.

Even if you do not land a full-time position when your internship wraps up, the experience will still 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 will also walk away at the end of your internship with the relevant experience and skills, not to mention positive testimonials and/or recommendations from your co-workers or manager. But you will need to perform well in the first place!

2. You can expand your professional network

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

If you do not have any work experience under your belt, this jump might not be the best decision as employers may be hesitant to bring in an applicant without prior experience in the working world. It is not the best idea for yourself either, to enter the workforce without having exposure to the industry or the job you are applying for. For example, what if the job is not actually what you imagined it to be?

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

An internship is a golden opportunity to grow your professional network as you will get to work alongside professionals in the industry you are interested in. Not only will you get to learn about what they do, you may even get the opportunity to get to know them personally. This can later be helpful for your future job search.

To maximise your internship experience, participate in as many physical or virtual networking events as you can – such as company or office events – and make a good impression by putting the best version of yourself forward. For all you know, someone who you introduced yourself to at one of these events may be looking for someone to fill a fulltime position in their department! 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 to do as well. Keep yourself in their minds by adding the people you networked with on LinkedIn, but do not forget to ask them if it is alright to do so beforehand. Drop them a personalised message to thank them for their time and for sharing their insights with you.

3. For an insider’s point of view

Doing an internship will help you discover the kind of roles in the industry that align with your personality, skill set and even long-term career goals. It is a great way to learn about how the industry works, and what is expected of the different roles within the industry – especially if you are 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 to a mentor explicitly, but you can always ask someone friendly in the office to share their work life stories with you, or to answer any burning questions you have about the industry and workplace.

Avoid grilling a co-worker or manager when they are busy, though. You do not want to annoy them! Office lunches, gatherings and networking events are typically good opportunities for you to ask questions.

4. To bulk up your resume

If you did not spend enough time on CCAs or gaining other work experience that can help build your resume with relevant points for the industry you want to work in while you were still in school, it is not too late to start after you graduate.

An internship is the perfect way to develop the required skills and gain the necessary experience to make your resume attractive to recruiters. As the saying goes, better late than never!

Get a notebook and jot down your objectives as an intern at the beginning of your internship, as well as your achievements over its course. This will make it easier for you when you update your resume and cover letter. You can also earn some brownie points by mentioning them during your job interviews as well!

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

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

Your internship role will likely not be as focused and specific as that of a graduate recruit on a training scheme. Instead, you will be given a variety of tasks that may seem insignificant, and you may find it difficult to develop key industry skills.

If you feel that you are not gaining the exposure you were promised, you could ask your manager or co-worker to assign you tasks that are more relevant to your ideal job. Showing initiative and requesting for more responsibilities will not only help you grow professionally; it may also impress your manager and improve your chances of being offered a permanent role at your company.

You should also make sure that you are 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 for two continuous weeks. While it is good to demonstrate that you value the opportunities given, it is also important to stand your ground if you are being mistreated. The trick is to strike a balance between knowing your rights and doing your job as an intern!

That said, best of luck on your internship journey and maximise the experience as much as you can!