Securing an Internship or Work Experience in Your First Year

First-year students can gain valuable career skills through insight experiences, internships, unique projects, SME work and more..

Gaining career experience as a first-year student can seem daunting, especially when internships with multinational organisations can often be reserved for penultimate-year students and finalists.  . However, there are numerous opportunities for first-year students to develop valuable skills, explore industries and boost employability.. The best path for you will depend on your industry and career goals.  

Here are some starting points to help you explore and find opportunities:

• Spring Insight experiences: Many large multinational organisations offer first-year students (and second-year students of a four-year degree) the chance to attend short taster experiences of their company. Check out the Target Jobs guide for more information and a list of opportunities still open to apply to.. 
• Internships for first-year students: Some companies open their internships to first-year students. Student Ladder provides a small list, but always read the guidance given by each company to ensure eligibility. For a broader pool of opportunities, try an internship search on GoinGlobal. 
• Student Shaper projects: Supporting an Imperial staff member in exploring a specific area of their work (usually non-research focused) is a great way to understand how universities operate and earn money while doing it. Some projects are available during term time, while others run over holiday periods. Visit the Student Shapers website for more information.
• Work experience in SMEs: Smaller companies often open their internship applications later in the year and may not have the same eligibility restrictions as larger companies. These companies can be harder to find, so try the links in the industry tabs of your related “What can I do with my degree” webpage for ideas on where to start.
• Arranging your own work experience: Many smaller companies do not advertise internships but may still be open to taking students on. You can approach these companies speculatively with some guidance offered here.
• Exclusive opportunities: the Careers Service offers a range of schemes open to first-years that allow you to build industry insights and experience from Ask an Alum to developing your own Professional Project with a third-sector organisation. Visit the exclusive opportunities page for more information. 
• Retail, Bar, and Hospitality jobs: Employers highly value customer service experience, which these roles provide. You can often find this type of work close to where you plan to live during the summer break. Check out the part-time working webpage for starting points.

The Careers Service is always available to help you navigate your career. If you’d like to discuss your career in more detail, you can find out how to access their services via their website.