How To Arrange An Internship In Australia

By Internships Down UnderCareer Tips

An internship can be an incredibly beneficial experience that could open opportunities which you never thought possible.
The right internship can provide a valuable link between University studies, and your first professional employment, while also offering a multitude of benefits such as;

Hands on training
Industry specific skills
Valuable networking
Professional workplace experience
& many more

Internships are often completed as a required element of a course, although many students voluntarily complete an internship to gain an advantage over other job seekers.

First step in arranging an internship

Prior to contacting any potential host companies, you will first need to determine a few things on your own;

Traditional or Virtual/Remote Internship?

While both internship options are beneficial in launching your career, each type of placement can focus on developing unique & specific skill sets

What industry do you want to intern in?

You may be looking to enhance your knowledge in a particular industry related to your studies, or you could be using the internship to ‘test the waters’ by getting an insight into your future career.

What do you want to get out of the internship?

Interns typically complete an internship to develop a number of areas; these may be industry specific hard skills, general workplace soft skills, industry contacts, etc. Consider what will be most beneficial in taking your career to the next level.

What size organisation?

Small, medium, large, multinational….where do you start & how to decide? Each option provides unique benefits, differing levels of exposure, and varying levels of responsibility.

Attendance per week & duration?

University requirements often dictate the minimum duration of an internship. Ensure you consider the number of hours your study & work schedule will allow in order to attend the internship. Don’t over-commit yourself or you’ll risk not getting the most out of your internship, and possibly leaving a poor impression on the host company.

Once you’re clear on the above, you can now move on to the next stage….

Developing your CV/Resume & Cover Letter

While this may sound simple, we suggest you view the following guidelines on how to write a CV/Resume for an internship, and tips on how to write a Cover Letter for an internship.

Contacting Host Companies

Your University

The Career department of your University will often be a valuable source of information in order to secure an internship. They may have a database of host company available positions ready for you to apply.

Company Website

There’s nothing stopping you from looking up the website of your dream company and contacting them directly. LinkedIn can often be a good source to pin-point the correct contact person in an organisation. However, in this scenario you don’t have the support of your University or a third party, and the company may be inexperienced in hosting interns.

Online Job/Internship Boards

There are a number of websites which allow host companies to post available positions. As you are unsupported by any third party, we suggest you tread cautiously and keep an eye out for any potential signs of exploitation or elements which may not be suitable for an internship e.g. making coffee.

Internship Placement Professionals

For over 15 years, Internships Down Under has been supporting International students to gain beneficial internship positions throughout Australia. We work with students in every step along the way from discussing learning outcomes, sourcing suitable host companies and arranging interviews, providing placement agreements, and continuing to monitor the progress of the placement all the way through to facilitating a reference letter from the company upon successful completion of the internship.
With experience comes expertise, and it is our business to assist & support students to land their dream internship in Australia.

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