You’re looking to get into a career path but potentially lack the experience required to be a successful candidate when applying for roles. Naturally you start to consider an internship as a way to get your foot in the door and some vital experience under your belt. But are internships worth it? Or are they purely a source of cheap labour for companies? We ask our experts:

Question of the Week: Are internships useful or just a source of cheap labour?

“They can be both. Choose judiciously so that you gain what you want out of the experience. Don’t do something if you are going to end up resenting ‘being used.’ Find out as much as possible in advance about how the internship will be structured; expect a certain level of ‘making the tea’ but also expect the employer to deliver an opportunity to learn real skills.”
Kate Johnson (National Careers Service)

“Cheap labour is a bonus for the client, it is an advantage for them. Who doesn’t want to hire someone who will work hard and for free? That doesn’t mean they’re not worth taking. Experience of working in the ‘real world’ can’t be learnt through university. There are plenty of paid internships out there as well if you can’t afford to work for free, it’s not an either or situation!”
Chloe Ho (Francis Consultancy Ltd)

“Employers are looking for staff who can hit the ground running and who have plenty of work experience. So there is an argument for saying that any internship is worthwhile as it gives you that crucial taste of the workplace bosses are looking for. The reality is that universities and employers in the public and third sectors in particular are feeling the economic squeeze so can’t afford to fund internships at the rates of pay they’d like to. That doesn’t mean to say the internships they offer are not worthwhile. I think you can afford to be choosy and I would look at the calibre of the company offering them first or better still get a broker like Rathbone to check if a placement there really benefits. Over the last year, Rathbone’s media team has taken on eleven pre and post-graduates, some as interns others as volunteers. Every single one of them has since gone on to full-time employment. And that’s in the media! Try telling them that placements are just a source of cheap labour!”
Peter Gibson, (Rathbone, youth charity)

“Internships can be very useful, but you must research each one carefully to ensure their value. Those that are fixed-term with clear tasks or a project to be completed suggest they have been properly structured to provide valuable experience. Be wary of any employer offering internships without a full job description or ad hoc tasks, particularly if they cannot offer any pay beyond expenses. A golden rule is look for internships that are relevant to you and your ambitions: doing an internship just to get into the workplace is unlikely to add much career value and certainly won’t improve your bank balance.”
Michael Barnard (Milkround Online)

“It doesn’t matter if Internships are a cheap source of labour for the company as the individual will get something out of it as well, usually more than the company. Any opportunity to gain work experience is valuable in todays market. Working, whether it is unpaid or paid, allows you to improve your skills and abilities, which can make the difference between getting the job you want or not.”
Lisa Wallace (Assessment Coach)

“Although internships have come under close scrutiny in the press, paid internships are still a good way of getting one step closer to your desired career. Internships give you a chance to gain a real taste of working life and meet a variety of people, who are generally happy to share their experiences with you. Also, with some large professional firms, there is the opportunity of getting a fast-track graduate position, which means that students can focus completely on their studies during their final year at university.”
Arnab Datta (Chartered Accountant, KPMG)

“In my second year at university I started an internship at a record label. It was a career path that I had always wanted to get into but had no idea where to start. The university in association with the Association of Independent Music arranged interviews and I was offered a 2 day per week placement for 6 months. It was unpaid (except for travel costs – which were reimbursed). I was doing the lowest work but it gave me vital knowledge, contacts and experience that would have opened up entry level jobs in most companies. The company was obviously getting a good deal (especially for 6 months). But what I gained was so much more. I gained a career focus, a stronger CV and a proper working knowledge of an industry. I was later offered a summer job and then a full time job, where I stayed for 7 years! The best bit of advice I was ever given was… “even if you are only making the tea, make the best tea you possibly can”. The key is find a company and an industry that you really want to get into and work you way in and up. This helped me, and might help you. But consider your options carefully as not everyone can afford to work for just expenses. ”
Dave (J&C Team)