Internships put graduates top of list for jobs

In the depressed graduate jobs market internships, industrial placements or vacation schemes increase prospects of getting a job after university said 76% of students in new TMP Worldwide research. Internships also improve networking skills (63%), team working skills (60%), commercial skills (54%) and a graduateís ability to demonstrate initiative (54%).

However, of the 766 students interviewed, only a quarter (27%) said they had undertaken an internship, industrial placement or vacation scheme, while 73% of all students had no internship experience. Over one fifth (22%) of final year students are leaving university with no formal work experience to add to their CV.

The UK is far behind other European countries and the US in regards to internship and industrial placement programmes. Although UK students are highly aware of the benefits of these schemes, final year students seem confused about how to apply. 71% said they did not know the timelines for applying, 72% said they did not know what sorts of employers offered these schemes, while 68% said they did not know how to fit these programme in around their studies. Although 44% of 1st and 2nd year students were keen on internships, once again they did not know how to apply.

As well as improving experience on their CV, 56% of students who had not done an internship broadly agreed that these schemes offered the best means of exploring and engaging with a new prospective employer, and 56% say that they represent a good opportunity to see what the world of work is like.

This research also focused on the announcement by Gordon Brown of a National Internship Scheme to help unemployed university leavers find a job. A month after this announcement 80% of students hadnít heard about the scheme, although 94% were in principle supportive of the idea. 86% were confused about how this scheme differed from student programmes already run by businesses.

Students were also sceptical with 73% saying that they wondered how seriously blue-chip organisations would take these Government-sponsored internships.

ìWhile the Government sponsored internship programme will help those who leave university without a job, our research has shown that there is a general lack of awareness about how to apply for internship programmes already offered by businesses,î says Neil Harrison, Head of Research and Planning at TMP Worldwide. ìIn a highly competitive and tough jobs market students need to do everything they can to improve their employability and get ahead of the game.î

This research also explored student confidence about finding a job, 41% of undergraduates said there are fewer jobs around which affected confidence levels.

Neil Harrison comments: ìThere is an obvious correlation between confidence levels and the economic situation. In April last year, 56% of graduates were confident or much more confident about finding a new job. This year it is almost the opposite with 57% saying they are less confident than a year ago. With all the doom and gloom thatís being reported, these are still surprisingly upbeat statistics with a third of gradu