Graduate Talent Pool is a new service that matches graduates with internship opportunities. On this site you can search and apply for internship vacancies posted by employers.
Getting an internship through Graduate Talent Pool is one way of building on the skills you gained at university. It can also give you real life work experience, let you try your hand at a possible career, and prove yourself to a potential employer.
Graduate Talent Pool is designed to help new and recent graduates gain real work experience. It makes finding, applying for and starting an internship as easy as possible.
The service is valued by employers up and down the country, in the public, private, and third sectors. Since the launch of the Graduate Talent Pool in 2009, tens of thousands of vacancies have been posted.
All 2012, 2013 and 2014 Graduates from UK universities are eligible to apply for Graduate Talent Pool internships if they are from countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) (which includes all EU countries plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland.
The internships offered on Graduate Talent Pool are based primarily in England. Visit the Go Wales website for work placements in Wales.
To find out more about graduate opportunities in Northern Ireland and Scotland, visit the graduate section of nidirect or the graduate section of AGCAS Scotland.
More ways to kickstart your career
In a difficult job market, it's more important than ever to look at all the options that could help improve your employability. As well as internships, options for graduates include:
- postgraduate study
- setting up your own business
- volunteering
- teaching through the Teach First programme
- short Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
What is an internship?
An internship is usually undertaken by students and graduates who know what career path they want to take, and are looking to gain specific skills or experiences.
Internships can last from a few weeks during the summer holidays to a year depending on the sector and employer.
Some employers use internships to assess graduates’ skills and can go on to recruit interns who have gained an understanding of the work and how the company operates. Therefore it makes sense to take an internship in a sector you are interested in or in which you have some prior experience.
Before you start looking for an internship you need to ask yourself:
- What career are you looking for?
- Are you flexible in terms of location?
- When can you start?
- How long are you available for?
- Does your internship need to be paid?
What are the benefits of an internship?
As well as giving you the chance to try out a particular role, an internship will allow you to get to grips with working life, by working as part of a team and meeting deadlines.
Other benefits include:
- increasing your skills and knowledge;
- improving your understanding of a particular job or industry;
- gaining an insight into the way organisations operate and the challenges they face;
- networking.
Should I be paid for my internship?
You should be paid at least the National Minimum Wage in the UK if you are performing the role of a worker. The most telling factors of a worker role are set hours, duties, or responsibilities. However, you should consider the arrangement as a whole in determining your right to pay - work experience should be for your benefit, not the employer’s. If you are a part of the commercial operation of a business, you are likely to be entitled to payment.
However, there are exemptions:
- Work shadowing;
- Working for a registered charity;
- A sandwich placement that is part of a higher education course;
- Undertaking work experience as part of ‘Back to Work’, or similar, schemes with the Department for Work and Pensions.
If you need clarification contact the pay and work rights helpline on 0800 917 2368.