Wondering what is an internship? An internship is a temporary job placement that creates opportunities to start a new career by giving you practical work experience in the field you’re interested in. So, it’s on-the-job learning before you’re qualified for the real deal!
Better still, it won’t take long for you to gain valuable on-the-job experience. You can complete an internship anywhere between six weeks and six months.1
In Australia, internships are a perfect way to transition from academic study to paid employment. Why? Because you’ll gain sought-after job skills through hands-on work experience. Now, let’s explore different types of internships and how you can find internship opportunities as a Charles Sturt student.
Did you know? At Charles Sturt, internships can be referred to as work-integrated learning (WIL) or work placements.
What are the different types of internships?
Generally, internships fall under two main categories: paid and unpaid. Here are the main differences, benefits and times when you might undertake a paid internship or an unpaid internship.
Paid internships
Thinking, ‘You had me at paid‘? Undertaking an internship can really pay off. As an intern, you could earn around $68,022 annually2 (based on an average of more than 300 different salaried jobs). As a paid intern, you can expect to undertake similar tasks to other paid employees, put theory into practice, and get compensated with your very own paycheck.
Earn while you learn: When you study engineering at Charles Sturt, you can enjoy the benefits of being a paid intern through a two-year cadetship. Find out more!
Another perk of a paid internship is that you may have the opportunity to apply for a permanent position with the company post-graduation. It’s also common for first- or second-year students to intern at the same company twice to build industry rapport, skills, and knowledge. So, if you can build professional networks at your dream workplace – go for it! Your hard work and determination could increase your chances of securing a full-time role with the organisation after graduation.
Unpaid internships
Although paid internships can be great for your bank balance, unpaid internships have their place. An unpaid internship can be an essential stepping stone to getting you where you want to go in your career. Some uni courses include mandatory unpaid internships or work-integrated learning, where you’ll learn essential practical skills for success in your chosen field.
For example, many of our medicine and health courses require you to undertake workplace learning in authentic clinical settings, such as hospitals, community health centres and clinics. Nursing, social work, dentistry and oral health, allied health – just to name a few. By undertaking an unpaid internship, you’ll gain real-world skills under the supervision of qualified industry professionals. And have the opportunity to grow your professional networks before you officially enter your industry. Find out if the course you’re interested in has workplace learning.
Full-time vs part-time internships
Just as there are full-time and part-time jobs, there are also full-time and part-time internships. Full-time internships typically involve working around 35 to 40 hours per week. Meanwhile, part-time internships are generally around five to 20 hours per week. So you can find an internship that matches your needs and availability. Of course, if your internship is part of your course, you’ll need to meet specific requirements.
Other internship formats
Both paid and unpaid internships can be further categorised into various formats, such as:
- Virtual internships: You can do these internships online from the comfort of your home. Their popularity is growing due to more companies offering work-from-home arrangements.
- Research internships: These can be industry- and university-based, where you can assist with research.
- Industry internships: These internships focus on a specific industry, such as engineering.
How can I get an internship in Australia?
A big part of Charles Sturt’s courses is our workplace learning. Most of our courses include hands-on experience in your field of study. You can learn more about work-integrated learning opportunities and practical experience at our events and information sessions.
Here’s how to develop your career further with an internship.
Step 1: Determine your career aspirations
Think about ‘why’ you want to undertake an internship, starting with your career goals. Ask yourself:
- What careers am I looking to gain access to?
- How will an internship opportunity help me achieve this?
- Will an internship help me secure future employment?
- Will I get the right type of experience from this internship?
Be honest with yourself. This will help you to better align an internship with your study and career goals.
Step 2: Explore Charles Sturt’s Career Portal
Our Career Portal is packed with useful resources and information – including internship opportunities. You’ll find recommended resources from graduate job providers and government organisations, such as:
- Prosple: Provides internships and graduate programs in Australia.
- NAGCAS: The National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services that can assist you with career planning.
- Graduate Careers Australia: This provides information on employment trends, salaries and the type of work you could expect to do in your chosen profession.
- Jobs and Skills Australia: This government website allows you to search for jobs and gain future skills.
You can also organise a consult with our Careers and Skills team and book a one-to-one appointment with a careers adviser to gain invaluable advice.
Step 3: Join the Earn As You Learn Program
Our free Earn As You Learn Program is an excellent way to earn while studying.
- Get career support from our career advisers. They can suggest ways to improve your resume and cover letter. Or help you to set up targeted job alerts or prep for a job interview.
- Access interactive career workshops, learn job-search strategies and more.
Step 4: Explore our industry partnerships
Internship opportunities exist through our strong industry partnerships. For example, our IBM internship is a fantastic opportunity for students studying the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Computer Science or Bachelor of Information Technology.
Step 5: Apply for internships through our Jobs Board
Bookmark our Jobs Board. Stat. You’ll find volunteer, internship, part-time and full-time jobs and graduate positions. It’s one of the best places to discover internship and job opportunities.
Step 6: Join our Careers Festival and meet industry professionals
You’re invited to our annual on-campus and online Charles Sturt Careers Festival. It’s where hundreds of employers come to our campus to share the latest insights into career success. The festival is an excellent opportunity to hear from industry speakers. See what the Careers Festival is all about by checking out our previous events:
At Charles Sturt, we also host Meet Employers sessions online for a wide range of industries. These sessions are a great way to connect with industry professionals, join professional networks and make new friends.
Kickstart your career with an internship
So, now you know what an internship is, it’s time to explore the opportunities available to you. Internships are valuable for gaining essential work experience and on-the-job knowledge. Best of all, you’ll discover if a company or career is right for you.
Internships are also great for building professional networks, making friends, and improving your soft skills. Interested in learning more about applying for an internship? Explore our careers hub or chat with our friendly team by getting in touch.
FAQs
How long do internships typically last in Australia?
An internship can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the industry you’d like to work in.
What skills are employers looking for in interns?
Employers look for interns who are dedicated, reliable, and eager to learn. They also seek interns who collaborate and can work well with others.
What is the minimum wage for internships in Australia?
The Fair Work Ombudsman3 states the minimum wage is $24.10 per hour. This figure should be a starting point for any intern accepting a paid placement internship program.
Can I get an internship as an international student?
Yes, international students studying in Australia with an Australian student visa can apply for an internship. However, please note that working hours are more restrictive for international students, so check your visa requirements.
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