Internships are an excellent tool for advancing your skills in a field of interest. These positions help young adults find a career path, test their aptitude for certain kinds of work, and further develop their resume or CV. Internships are almost always unpaid as the intern is gaining skills and experience. It is critical to find the right match so that the relationship is beneficial to both intern and company. Full time students have the easiest time finding internships because of their age, lack of real life skills, amount of free time, and education.

To secure an internship aboard, it is usually necessary to find a company that sets-up the internship. Internships are commonly set-up through a university for its students.

Internships in Scotland

London is the site of the vast majority of internships in the UK. But the country to the north offers a bustling economic environment in a unique setting. Contact any of the many companies that have headquarters in the major cities. The finance sector is especially robust in Edinburgh.

Search for Internships

Newspaper

Several papers have a helpful classified's section.

These include:
• The Scotsman
• The Daily Record
• Hearld Scotland

Online

There are online search engines to help you find an internship:
• Efinancial Careers
• Intern Abroad
• Transitions Abroad

It is also possible to apply directly with organizations. Research your area of interest and find if there are any organizations with online applications.

Networking

If you know anyone in Scotland get in touch! It's not necessarily what you know, but who you know. Friends and family, or any contact you have in your desired business may know of a position. There are also professional social networks like Linkedin which allows for people to make business contacts.

Programs

To secure an internship aboard, it is usually easiest to find a company that sets-up the internship. Some agencies require a fee to secure a placement. Such agencies may include:

AIESEC - is a student-run, non-profit organization which offers paid internships in business and technical fields in around 90 countries and territories.

TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme

The TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme offers university graduates an opportunity to work on a short-term project with an established business or social enterprise. Projects last from three months to one year. Participating organizations offer a minimum salary of 14,000 GBP during the placement. A supplement of 1,500 GBP is included to placements based in the Highlands and Islands.

The programme is open to all graduates who:
• Have graduated at degree or postgraduate level from a higher education institution within the past two years — international graduates from non EU countries must have graduated from a Scottish higher education institution within the past two years
• Have up-to-date visa documentation if required — international graduates only
• Have good English language skills appropriate to a business environment
• Have no more than one year’s relevant (graduate level) work experience.

Search for positions at Talent Scotland job search.