Page 65 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

ARTICLE 63

To Be Or Not to

Be A Graduate

Intern

A STUDY IN 2015 BY UK-

BASED COMPANY HIGH

FLIERS, HAS SHOWN THAT
ALMOST 50% OF POTENTIAL

EMPLOYERS AGREE THAT

FRESH GRADUATES WITH

ZERO WORK EXPERIENCE
ARE UNLIKELY TO BE HIRED.

Ideally, one would have already secured at least one or two work
attachments while still in university. However, if you have been remiss
in that during your school years – it would be prudent to consider
undertaking a graduate internship or trainee programme.

According to an article in Forbes in 2016, the lack of relevant experience
can decrease your negotiating power with an employer regarding your
fi rst salary due to the lack of industry knowledge or benchmark wage –
resulting in potentially 5 to 10 percent less take-home pay.

How is a graduate intern different from an intern?
In a nutshell, it is a chance to gain valuable insight and fi rst-hand
experience in your chosen industry while proving your worth to potential
hirers. Work attachments often last for a short timeframe such as three
to six months, but graduate internships/trainee programmes usually
serve as a probation period for enterprises to decide if the candidate is
worth their salt for a fulltime position.
Is it remunerated?
It differs from company to company, but most do offer some form of
compensation or stipend for your time. Depending on the industry, they
may offer enough to cover your daily public transportation and meals
– however, there are companies that offer no salary for a graduate
trainee position.