What is an Internship?

An internship is a temporary training position in a company or organisation. Internships are great ways to learn and gain experience. They are similar to apprenticeships, but are usually not paid.

Many companies (host companies) offer internships as a way to offer people experience they could not otherwise get. Internship programmes are usually set up by companies on their own so if there’s an area you want to get more experience in, research organisations in that sector and see what they might have to offer.

Should I do an Internship?

There are many reasons why people choose to do internships.

• Internships offer experience in a field, which looks good on your CV.
• Internships are a good way to check out if a certain career actually suits you and if you like it.
• Internships are a great way to network and make contacts.
• If you do well, you may be offered a paid position with the company.

Things to consider before starting an internship

Internships are usually unpaid. Many internships will contribute to travel and lunch costs, but it is unusual to get a proper wage from an internship.

Chat with someone who’s done the same internship. You can learn a lot from someone who’s been through all the experiences you’re about to have. It could be beneficial to compare their opinions on it to what your prospective employer has outlined. 

You may find yourself on tea/coffee duty a lot and be given lots of the boring, but necessary tasks of the organisation.You may not get much real experience or variety and be stuck doing the same things over and over. A lot of your experience will depend on the individual company and your supervisor.

Some organisations may take advantage of interns, replacing them every few months for free labour when instead they could create a full-time job for someone

How to get the most out of internships

• No matter what you are asked to do, be enthusiastic about it, smile and work hard
• Employers like it when workers show their own initiative rather than constantly waiting for direction 
• Try to stay positive and only make a complaint if you are being treated unfairly
• Set some goals for yourself such as working in a certain area or even talking to people from that area
• Asking questions will help you to learn and make you look eager
• Even if you are stuck in a small department, you can still strike up conversations with staff from other areas 
• You can also socialise at work functions or join clubs at work​

Have a chat with the employer about possible job opportunities after internships. Simply asking about how many interns go on to employment in the company or organisation may give you an idea about your own prospects.

Remember that you always have the choice to end the internship. If you feel you’re being taken advantage of, it’s ok to walk away. Just be sure to do it as professionally as possible, be honest about why you’re leaving, and thank them for their time thus far.

How to find internships in Ireland

• Check out the careers office at your university or college. Most will carry details of available internships.
• Draw up a list of companies and enquire if they do an internship programme. Apply early if they do.
• Check out websites such as activelink.ie for internship opportunities with non-profits and charities.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back