Summer internships are a fantastic way to gain experience - many employers use these schemes as a pipeline into their graduate roles. However, securing a formal internship isn't always straightforward. Some sectors offer fewer opportunities, and many schemes specifically target penultimate-year students. This can be particularly challenging if you're in your first year, interested in a field where formal internships are less common, or have other commitments over the summer.
The good news? There are plenty of valuable ways to gain experience beyond traditional internship programmes.
Focus on building your skill set
The latest ISE Development Survey reveals what employers really want: resilience, teamwork, negotiating and influencing, and leadership skills. You can develop these crucial skills in many different ways:
Explore seasonal work
Summer jobs aren't just about earning money (though that's definitely a bonus!). Whether it's retail, hospitality, or working at a summer camp, these roles can be goldmines for developing key skills. Think about it - handling busy periods in a café demonstrates resilience and working under pressure, while coordinating with colleagues shows teamwork and communication skills.
Search on MyFuture
Go to SU Jobs for part-time opportunities in Bath
Consider volunteering
Volunteering can offer flexibility while building impressive skills. Whether it's a one-off summer project or a longer-term commitment, voluntary work shows initiative and social responsibility - qualities that catch employers' eyes.
Go to SU Volunteering for volunteering opportunities
Create your own opportunities
Sometimes the best experiences are the ones you create yourself. Try these approaches:
- Find out more about networking in our Get Started guide. In particular, try out Bath Connection, which is a networking site for Bath students and alumni - alumni experts on the site are there because they're happy to chat. Find out more about Bath Connection
- Try using library databases to find organisations you can target with speculative applications
- Find out more about speculative applications
Boost your skills online
The digital world offers countless opportunities to enhance your skillset:
The UK government-run National Careers Service has gathered a range of free courses to help you learn new skills or change jobs. Including general skills that apply to all sectors and more specialised skills. There are some great coding resources here in particular.
You could also explore virtual work experience. Some companies are starting to offer virtual work experience opportunities. The format is a bit like an online course but there are opportunities to do some practical projects too. Forage and Springpod are two of the big platforms offering these.
Look out for our Micro Internships scheme
Our pilot Micro Internship programme offers 1-5 day learning and development opportunities available exclusively to University of Bath students. These are paid opportunities and may take place either remotely or in-person, depending on employer specification.
Don't overlook smaller companies
While this post focuses on alternatives, remember that smaller companies often advertise internship opportunities closer to summer. These positions typically have more flexible requirements and less competition than big corporate schemes. First-year students should check MyFuture regularly - we clearly mark opportunities open to first years.
Get help from Careers
Hopefully you have got a few ideas for alternatives to summer internships. However, if you are concerned about building your work experience whether over this summer or more generally - we are here to help. We can help you get a plan to build your work experience.
Find out how to get help from Careers
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to gaining work experience. The key is finding opportunities that align with your schedule, interests, and career goals - whether that's through traditional internships or alternative pathways.
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