What are internships and should I do one?

Internships are work experience placements, typically lasting 8-12 weeks and take place in the summer. Graduate employers target penultimate year students (if you are a 4 year MPhys student it may be worth contacting an employer to ask if you are eligible after completing your second year). Employers use internships to assess a candidates skills, attributes and suitability for graduate roles and applications are very competitive. They can be an important step towards a successful graduate application in some industries, notably investment banking. But employers value all experience and any extra-curricular activities, volunteering and work experience for example, can also demonstrate your employability to a potential employer.

I need to work part-time to support myself. Is it possible to find casual work which is also good work experience for a future career?

Employers value any experience if you present it in a relevant way to meet their requirements. Extra-curricular activities, societies, volunteering, hobbies and interests, for example, can all demonstrate employability skills sought by recruiters. Ambassador work for Physics, internships, public engagement, summer research projects, GTA work for PGRs is also beneficial. You can contact UnitempsLink opens in a new window, an employment agency on campus for advice on finding part time, temporary work opportunities during your degree.

How might I go about arranging to do voluntary work at a company that interests me?

You can find volunteering opportunities in the local community by contacting our volunteering teamLink opens in a new window, there is also a national database of organisations looking for volunteersLink opens in a new window. You can also try to create your own work experience opportunitiesLink opens in a new window, this is often called making a 'speculative application. If you do find a short period of unpaid work experience you can apply for a Warwick work experience bursaryLink opens in a new window to cover your expenses.

Does studying or working abroad for a year make you more employable?

Working and/or studying abroad can demonstrate initiative, adaptability and resilience for example - all skills highly valued by employers.

What are the benefits of doing a Summer ResearchLink opens in a new window project?

An Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (URSS) project can be an effective way of experiencing academic research and helping you decide if you have the skill set and motivation to undertake a PhD. Even if you decide not to pursue academic research a URSS project will show employers your analytical and problem solving skills and ability to collaborate.

How might I reference my involvement in a student society in a job application?

Executive positions can offer opportunities to highlight leadership skills, the ability to influence and persuade people - as well as teamwork and communication skills. Depending on your role you may be able to describe how. For example, you organised an event, how you delivered a project on time and within budget.