Oleksandra Kondratska, Business with Enterprise and Innovation student, spent her 2025 summer interning for the Careers Service for 12 weeks. Read on to find out what Oleksandra says about her experience as a Digital Information Content Design Intern.
How it all started
Last spring, while going through my emails, I came across an Employ.ed internship role advertised in a newsletter and decided to apply. After the application process and an interview, I got the opportunity to become part of the Information and Engagement Team at the Careers Service for the summer as a Digital Information Content Design Intern.
As a Business Studies with Enterprise and Innovations student at the University of Edinburgh, I became particularly interested in marketing and digital content after taking some related courses, so I thought that this internship was a great stepping stone towards what I wanted to do: a career in marketing and creative content creation.
My internship experience
Throughout the summer, I contributed to the Careers Service’s website redevelopment project. I focused on the website’s digital content – auditing it, benchmarking against other universities’ Careers Services, and identifying gaps. That knowledge then allowed me to move on to the final objective of the internship, which was creating a new digital, interactive resource for students to use at the early stages of their career thinking.
Working on the website content made me realise how important clear, engaging online resources are. Digital communication in higher education is constantly evolving, with more focus on accessibility and user experience. My internship objectives allowed me to combine my interest in marketing and digital content with my creative skills, which helped me realise that I don’t have to choose between creativity and strategy, because creativity can enhance every task I take on.
The impact of my internship
My internship experience made me far more confident in my career journey, from understanding how workplace culture works to feeling more self-assured in my skills and commercially aware when applying for other roles.
Additionally, it was a great opportunity to meet different students, who were also having their internships that summer, and share our similar and different experiences, as we all worked at the university but across various departments. It was nice to hear their perspectives and realise that many of the feelings I had were common and completely normal.
Overall, the internship was an invaluable period for me that confirmed my ideas about the direction I wanted to pursue. Otherwise, I would still be wondering “what if”. My time as an intern strengthened my belief in my future prospects and gave me reassurance, despite how quickly the industry is changing. I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who work closely with students and, therefore, understand the challenges of career development. The team I was working with provided me with all the support I needed and created a safe environment for learning and discovery. Their guidance and support made me feel safe, heard and encouraged to reflect on my growth.
If you’re thinking about applying for a summer internship, I’d really encourage you to go for it — it’s a safe way to explore your interests and build confidence.
Many thanks, Oleksandra.
