Many students (and career changers) are looking to
get into International Development and one way of doing this is through
an internship. An internship will build your practical experience and
positively contribute to your CV for an entry level job. Many
organisations and companies have internships however finding them is
difficult; they seem to be randomly placed on websites, often under
'volunteering'.
A practical internship will give you real experience and you can
transfer this to an International Development NGO or company. Employers
need relevant work experience and skills. You can find out what skills
you have already through a
career
consultation and this will also help you develop a strategy, which
might include an internship or not.
An intern is someone who works in a temporary position with an emphasis
on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, making it similar
to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university
students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate
adults seeking skills for a new career. Student internships provide
opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine
if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of
contacts, or gain school credit. Internships provide employers with
cheap or free labour for (typically) low-level tasks, and also the
prospect of interns returning to the company after completing their
education and requiring little or no training.
An internship may be paid, unpaid or partially paid (in the form of a
stipend). Paid internships are most common in the medical, architecture
science, engineering, law, business (especially accounting and finance),
technology and advertising fields. Internships in non-profit
organization such as charities and think tanks are often unpaid,
volunteer positions. Internships may be part-time or full-time;
typically they are part-time during the university year and full-time in
the summer, and they typically last 6–12 weeks, but can be shorter or
longer. The act of job shadowing may also constitute as interning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern
International Development Internships are very competitive and few
organisations of them. Consider gaining experience through an internship
out side of the sector or volunteer with a development agency; here are
some ideas...
Employment4Students.co.uk
http://www.e4s.co.uk/docs/internships.htm
Employment4students.co.uk Ltd was set up in 2000, after the introduction
of university tuition fees, to provide a facility for students to find
term time and holiday jobs. It lists internship positions available in
the country.
Graduate Talent Pool
http://graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk
Graduate Talent Pool is a partnership between Government and employers,
designed to help new and recent graduates gain real work experience.
RateMyPlacement
http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk
RateMyPlacement is the UK's leading undergraduate resource for students,
universities and employers involved in work placements and internships.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have
developed a guide for employers who are looking to create and implement
an internship. It covers areas such as recruitment, payment and
duration, treatment, supervision, reference and feedback. You might find
it helpful to know what to
expect from your internship.
International development jobs, volunteering overseas and
international development career advice for people in transition: new
graduates, career changers and international development workers.
Working with you in support
of the
Millennium Development Goals.
