Summer Internships are your opportunity to test-drive a career path, refine your skills, and build a network of industry contacts. They provide a platform to apply your skills to actual business problems, developing your understanding and enhancing your career. With a lack of work experience one of the biggest barriers for graduates at the start of their career engaging in an internship is not just about gaining experience; it’s about shaping the future of your career with confidence.
Here at Manchester Met we have a process for recognising summer internship opportunities and for helping you highlight them to future employers. The sections below take you through our processes on how to find, complete and get recognition for your summer internship:
What counts as a Summer Internship?
Open to first and second year undergraduate students as well as masters level students, a Summer Internship is a role that you have identified as an opportunity to develop new skills and experiences. The minimum duration of a Summer internship is four weeks usually between May and September, this can be undertaken full time, or it can be spread out as a part time role (you’ll need to work this out with your employer). You’ll be rewarded with 300 Rise points and a chance to gain your Summer Internship badge.
I’ve done an internship, job or work experience that doesn’t qualify. Does it not count?
While your experience is not a summer internship, it definitely counts! Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes, make sure you’ve claimed your Rise points and check out our self-study pack designed to help you reflect on your skills. If you want your summer internship badge then you can find advice on how to find one below.
I need to find a summer internship!
Don’t worry we have loads of support on offer. Our CareerHub platform has loads of roles available here many of which are exclusive to Manchester Met students. Make sure you also check out our application support as well. However, you aren’t limited to just these, there are opportunities available in many places:
- Search on Career Hub
- Search for visa job listings on Student Circus
- Networking events
- Rate My Placement
- Prospects
- TARGETJobs
Not every Internship is advertised so take advantage of networking opportunities and events. You can connect with professionals on LinkedIn or speak with your current employer about potential Internship. Use our guide for sending speculative applications.
I’ve got a summer internship arranged, what next?
Congratulations! Our internship team have support available to you to help you make the most of your opportunity. They’ll be a point of contact for you through your internship to help you along the way so ensure you fill in this form before your start date.
If you’re currently on an internship don’t worry! You can also register your internship with us on completion to gain your Rise points using this form.
I’ve already completed my summer internship, can I still benefit?
Absolutely! You just need to tell us about it using this form, we’ll then award you your Rise points! You should also check out this self-study pack on skills reflection.
I’ve got my Rise points, is there anything else?
There is! A key part of any experience is reflecting on what you’ve learnt, to gain your Rise Summer Internship Badge you need to submit your CV and LinkedIn profile updated with your experience, the internships team will have sent you the link on completion of your internship. The Rise team can provide you with advice around how you can turn your experience into academic credit through a specialised version of the Rise Assessment, this is a recommended but optional part of the internship programme.
