Rowan studied English literature and creative writing before starting an internship at the University of East Anglia's (UEA) careers service. Discover how to find the right internship and make the most of the experience
How did you get your internship?
I spent the summer after I graduated working as a temp in a shoe shop. I didn't like it much, and it was only a temporary job, so I needed to find something else to do after. I started looking for a job - I knew I wanted to do something administrative because I felt that would be a good skill to gain experience in, as so many jobs ask for it.
I was looking on the UEA CareerCentral website for potential jobs I could apply for, and I came across my internship. It was a very simple application process - I just had to write a cover letter and CV, and then a couple of weeks later attend an interview.
I was drawn to it because I liked the prospect of working at UEA, where I'd studied for the past three years.
What does a typical day look like?
I spend my time:
making posters to advertise vacancies to students
emailing organisations about events or job openings to advertise on our site
researching potential student and graduate opportunities
uploading student and graduate vacancies.
Which skills from your degree have been most useful in your internship?
Being able to skim read is a skill I honed during my degree. When you're going through 30 or more job descriptions in a day, quickly spotting key details like required experience or weekly hours saves a lot of time - similar to how I would hunt for specific quotes in texts when writing essays.
The most valuable skill I've gained, though, is Excel. I never considered myself particularly 'good with computers' before my internships, and I started knowing almost nothing about it. I quickly discovered it's much easier to use than I thought - and in today's workplace, it's an incredibly valuable skill.
How has your internship shaped your ideas about the future?
I think internships are one of the best ways to enter the workforce. There's more focus on training and development than other opportunities, and while no one is holding your hand through it, there's a lot of support available throughout.
The internship has made me feel that transitioning from university to work is more manageable. Before I took this internship, I was thinking a lot about staying in academia - as many university students do - but I now have a stronger grasp of what it's like to work an office job and what skills I want to develop going forward. I'm now looking more into potentially pursuing a career in policy or international development.
What are your plans for after your internship?
I don't really have a set plan yet, though I know I want to travel for a while after my internship ends.
A lot of what I've learned about my internship and leaving university in general is that it's very hard to plan for the future. You never really know what's going to happen next, or what you're going to want to do in a year's time. I never expected to land this internship, and even when I did, I didn't expect my contract to be extended.
I spent a lot of time when I was at university worrying about what I was going to do once I had graduated, but I've realised throughout my internship that it's more important to make the most of what you have in the present and spend your time developing the skills you see yourself needing in the future.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently while at university?
I wish I'd interacted more with the careers department as a student. Now that I work at CareerCentral, I'm aware of how much effort goes into supporting students and how many opportunities are available to learn and receive careers advice.
What tips would you give to others thinking about finding and doing an internship?
Apply to everything that interests you. A lot of people don't apply for opportunities because they assume they're too competitive or that they won't get them. I almost didn't apply to my internship because I thought my application wasn't good enough, but here I am. You never know unless you try.
Make the most out of your internship. They are supposed to focus on learning and training, not just working. Figure out what skills you want to develop and then discuss with your line manager how you can fit these into your weekly schedule and workload.
Don't undersell your degree. Internships are designed for people entering the world of work, so it's ok if you don't have a wealth of work experience. Think about what you learned through your degree, volunteering, or from working within societies, and how that can translate to the job requirements.
