Landing the right internship while you’re still at university can play a crucial role in shaping your career trajectory and opening doors to top graduate roles. Beyond just adding experience to your CV, internships can help you clarify your interests, refine your skills, and guide your future career choices. Here we’ll explore the ways internships can impact your professional journey.

1. Put your knowledge into practice

Internships give you the chance to take what you’ve learned in your degree, or through other experiences, and apply it in a real-world setting. They provide hands-on experience that not only deepens your understanding of the industry you’re interested in but also exposes you to new insights and skills you might not encounter in the classroom. Stepping into a professional environment helps you move beyond theory, explore practical applications, and even tackle common workplace challenges like anxiety in new settings. Additionally, internships allow you to expand your expertise in specific areas connected to your future career, highlighting opportunities for growth, improvement, and discovering new interests.

2. Gain firsthand industry experience

Internships give you a real taste of what your future career might look like. This firsthand exposure helps broaden your perspective, showing you how work actually happens in your chosen industry. You’ll meet new people, adapt to different environments, and face challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Experiencing the values and culture of the industry allows you to see what fits with your own career goals, and what doesn’t. Being immersed in a professional setting also turns your career aspirations into a tangible reality, offering opportunities to grow, expand your network, and make informed decisions about the path that best aligns with your long-term objectives.

3. Build your professional network

Internships offer a unique opportunity to gain valuable work experience while expanding your professional network. Meeting colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals allows you to forge connections that can support your career growth. Developing a network during your internship is crucial, it not only helps you gain insights and knowledge from experienced professionals but can also open doors to future job opportunities. The relationships you build can play a key role in advancing your career and keeping you informed about trends and opportunities in your chosen field.

4. Develop and strengthen your skills

Internships also provide an excellent opportunity to hone and expand your skills beyond the classroom. They allow you to refine your knowledge while gaining practical, hands-on experience that can make you more attractive to future employers. Internships often place you in real-world scenarios where you can apply industry-specific tools and software, helping you build the expertise needed for your chosen career. By actively developing these skills, you not only increase your job readiness but also identify areas for improvement, giving you a clear path for ongoing professional growth. The practical experience gained during an internship can be a key factor in shaping your skillset and boosting your confidence in the workplace.