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Finding advertised internships
There are a range of places where internships are advertised, many have similar closing dates for applications so make sure you are aware of deadlines.
Watch out for insight weeks, career academies or open days aimed at first and second years - these are a good way to learn about an organisation and make a decision about where you would like to gain further work experience.
Where to look
SAGE
SAGE is our vacancy and employer database. Hundreds of internships across a wide range of sectors are advertised on SAGE each year.
As an Edinburgh student or graduate you can access SAGE here with your EASE login.
The EdGE Database - pulls together lots of the opportunities that exist in or through the University, including work experience vacancies.
Additional websites
Employ.ed on Campus Internship Programme: The Careers Service, in collaboration with a range of University of Edinburgh departments, runs a structured internship programme - Employ.ed on Campus.
Third Sector Internships Scotland: This programme helps students to find paid work experience in the Third Sector.
Graduate Talent Pool: part of a package of measures launched by the government to support graduates in improving their employability skills and to support business in difficult times.
You can apply if you graduated between 2010 - 2012 from a UK university with at least a degree or foundation degree, and you are from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Graduates already claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) for six months or more will be able to undertake an internship for up to 13 weeks alongside claiming JSA and looking for work. For details visit the website below.
TalentScotland: runs a Graduate Placement Programme which offers recent graduates an opportunity to work on a short-term project with an established business or social enterprise. Projects last from 3 months to one year.
Although the Careers Service does not formally endorse outside providers of information, we do have established links with the following internship recruitment publishers:
Prospects: "The UK's official graduate careers website", where you will find hundreds of internships across the country. See also the e-journal.
TargetJobs: This site has a huge number of internship vacancies on a lively website where you can register to receive jobs and news alerts by email.
The Centre for Scottish Public Policy’s ‘Adopt an Intern’ programme is one of the very few structured placement opportunities that provide graduates with paid internships in cross-sector organisations throughout Scotland, enabling them to gain this much-needed experience.
Meet employers on campus
Meeting employers is a great way of finding out about internship vacancies. Over 200 employers visit this university each year.
Many employers specifically target students from the University of Edinburgh. When you are looking for an internship, make sure you meet employers to hear about their opportunities. There are many benefits:
- Ask information that you can’t find on websites
- Get to know the type of people you might be working with
- Be able to demonstrate commitment to an employer in your applications.
How to meet employers on campus:
Careers fairs: Attend the university careers fair with the highest number of exhibitors in Scotland, many employers
Employer presentations: Interested in a particular employer? Find out details of their vacancies, development opportunities and meet recent graduates.
When to apply
If you decide to apply for an internship then start looking early in semester one of your penultimate year.
Usually applications are due early in semester two, but some schemes may even close before Christmas. They will mostly be aimed at penultimate year students, however some organisations welcome applications for internships from graduates.
This article was published on Sep 13, 2012