Welcome to the second blog in our Employ.ed on Campus series from Amelia Shaulko, fourth year student of Chinese and Linguistics, who worked as a Mentoring Intern during the summer vacation.
Introducing Amelia…
Currently, I am a 4th year student of Chinese and Linguistics. As I entered my third year, I found myself considering life after university more frequently. I knew that I had gained transferable skills during my studies but didn’t know where I could transfer them to. Therefore, I prioritised finding an internship to understand more about working in an office, learn more about what I wanted in my career and gain work experience.
I came across the Employ.ed on Campus internships through email. I was impressed by the range of roles on offer and the opportunity to contribute to the student experience at Edinburgh. The application was straightforward, as the role requirements were clear, and there were resources signposted to support applicants.
What did your internship role involve?
As the Mentoring Intern at the Careers Service, my role was twofold. First, I was to research available mentoring resources and to assess the positive impact of mentoring. This was a valuable opportunity to adapt the research skills I had developed during my degree to a professional setting and communicate with organisations outside the University. Next, I was tasked with creating a self-led guide for students to find their own mentor and a guide for staff to support students with mentoring. I enjoyed this project because it allowed me to be creative; a skill I don’t use much as a student.
Can you tell us about the working pattern of your internship?
I had a hybrid working pattern, meaning I could work both at the Careers Service office in the Main Library and remotely. I appreciated the flexibility of this arrangement as it allowed me to organise my project as I saw necessary.
On reflection Amelia, what did you gain from your internship?
The knowledge I have acquired through this internship ranges from technical skills such as an increased understanding of Microsoft Office tools to transferable skills, such as organisation and management (which are definitely useful in my final year!). From working in the Careers Service, I have also gained an in-depth knowledge of the career development resources available to students and will carry on using them.
Alongside the internship, I took part in the Edinburgh Award, which allowed me to choose three skills to actively work on this summer. I am especially proud of my progress with decision-making as before, I would always find myself agonising over decisions. Taking part in this internship let me build my resilience to decision-making as I had great autonomy with my project, meaning I was constantly making decisions about my day-to-day workload and the direction of the project. I also felt supported by the Internship Team, who created a newsletter filled with advice and resources about improving skills, including decision-making, which I found myself coming back to repeatedly over the course of the internship.
Overall, as a result of my internship, I feel more confident in myself and my ability to enter the working world. I recommend the ‘Employ.ed on Campus’ programme as it is specifically designed to support students with their career development. This means that as well as getting paid work experience, students are actively supported with developing key skills and enhancing employability.
Have you any advice for students interested in applying for an Employ.ed on Campus internship?
My top three tips are:
1. Just go for it!
Applying for an internship can be nerve-wracking, but even in the worst-case scenario, if you are not offered the role, you still gain valuable experience from the application process which is guaranteed to prepare you for the future.
2. Take advantage of the Careers Service.
The Careers Service website and Careers Service Plus have comprehensive resources to help you write your CV and cover letter, prepare for interviews and more. I especially recommend using CV360 and Interview360.
3. Have confidence in yourself and your skills.
You have more skills and experience than you think. When writing your application, consider the requirements of the role and where you have shown these skills. This doesn’t just have to be paid work; also consider any experiences you have with societies, voluntary work, and life in general!
I greatly enjoyed my internship experience and wish the best of luck to those applying.
Thanks Amelia for your excellent insight.
Has our blog series inspired you to consider an Employ.ed on Campus internship? If so, you can find out more on our webpage. Remember, opportunities for the 2025 Employ.ed on Campus programme, will be advertised in February 2025.
(Image credit: Pete Linforth from Pixabay)
Really great post reflecting on the process and the experience