Is it worth doing an internship

Is it worth doing an internship Is it worth doing an internship?Posted December 19, 2013, by Jo Messer Im a local uni student and am confused about the rules around internships as Ive heard there are things were not legally allowed to do. Are internships still a good idea and should I try to organise one myself or get my uni to do it? Felicity, 21, communications student Internships are a fantastic way to gain valuable industry experience related to your field of study. There are many different kinds of work experience some may be included as part of your course and some is entirely optional. The terms internship, distribution policyment and work experience are often used interchangeably. However, internships are normally undertaken towards the end of your qualification and are related directly to your course of study. Theres been a lot of noise in the media lately about unpaid internships and ritterlich Work Australia has launched a crackdown on exploitation of interns, drawing attention to the Fair Work Act. If youre doing an internship as part of your course then that will generally fall within the scope of the Fair Work Act. Anything outside of that needs to be carefully considered and may entitle you to be paid at the minimum wage. Are internships a good idea? Yes, absolutely but that is assuming that all the requirements are met. Its important that your internship has real benefits, both to you and the employer. Your internship should have clear objectives and the expectations need to be clearly articulated. Internships offer you an opportunity to Gain relevant career experience Develop your industry knowledge Build your professional networks Develop your skills and confidence Boost your resume Gain a competitive advantage in the graduate employment market Finding an internship Finding an internship may not be easy and youll need to do your research and be persistent. The first step is to find out if your university offers a formalised program. Many courses have credit units that require you to complete industry-based learning and your university may have a directory of organisations that you can contact. Alternatively, you may have to find your own internship (which may or may not be for credit). Most universities have a jobs board so this is a good place to start. Also check out relevant professional associations and consider formal vacation programs and other industry-based programs. Many of these are advertised on Graduate Opportunities or Unigrad. You can also do a search on Student Internships, a directory of student internship opportunities. A note on insurance Before starting your internship you need to check if you are covered for insurance either by the university or by the employer. If you are paid during your internship then you are an employee and the responsibility for insurance falls to your employer. Most universities will offer indemnity insurance when an internship or placement is a formal requirement for a c ourse. If you are undertaking an internship with an organisation that uses volunteers, then you should be covered by their volunteer insurance arrangements (this would apply, for example, to hospitals, not-for-profits and community organisations). Jo Messer is a Career Development Specialist who has many years of experience in supporting and guiding students and graduates of some of Australias most respected universities, as well as mature-aged clients, across all facets of their career. She is a Professional Member of CDAA and an active member of NAGCAS. Whether you have a specific question about how to achieve your career goal or something more general, Jo is available to provide you with up-to-date advice. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchescareer advisor onlineuns w early entrystudy in australia for international studentsyear 10 work experience ideasflexible entry usyd CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire erreichbar Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJo MesserRelated ArticlesBrowse moreITWhere you can take your IT careerHave you tried turning it off and on again? 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