What it's like to be a student intern at the University of Glasgow

By Zita Tóth, Global Opportunities Intern, Natasha Brown, Events & Social Media Intern and Louise Burns, Research & Policy Intern

Working part-time is common for many university students. Yet, whenever I tell a friend or a classmate that I’m an intern at the University, their initial reaction is genuine surprise. After that come the questions—‘But what do you do?’ ‘Where do you find those internships?’ and ‘How do you get them?’

In my experience, students often believe that you have to be a superhuman with tons of professional experience to secure these positions. But my fellow interns and I found that knowing how to present our transferable skills mattered more than previous experience during the application process. What’s more, some of us gained these skills through clubs and societies rather than in a professional environment.

To show the variety of roles and to demystify the University's internships, three previous UofG interns have teamed up to share their experiences.

Zita Tóth, Global Opportunities Intern

I worked for the Global Opportunities Teams at the University. They oversee exchange programmes.

My role involved basic administrative tasks related to exchange student support (answering emails, checking student documents, managing spreadsheets, etc) as well as event support and content creation.

Besides that, I regularly liaised with student ambassadors. These were students on exchange who created content for social media that I published.

In 2021-22, there were three Global Opportunities interns, and even though we mostly worked independently, we also had some collaborative projects. In addition, we worked closely with Exchange Coordinators and other Careers & Global Opportunities staff.

I found the position on The Internship Hub. I was looking for on-campus opportunities specifically, so I was glad when I finally found something that was not only offered by the University but also aligned with my interests and previous work experience.

The application process was quite long. I applied in August 2021, was shortlisted on 7 September, had my interview on 19 October and started on 15 November.

One of the best things about this position was the flexibility. During term, I could easily arrange my hours around my timetable and other commitments. It was also convenient that my shifts were spread over the usual business hours and that I didn’t have to work in the evenings or at the weekend. Another advantage was the hybrid work model that allowed me to work partly from home.

I have two pieces of advice for anyone wanting to secure an internship at the University.

1. Show rather than tell your strengths in the application form. Don’t just say that you meet the essential and desirable criteria but give examples to demonstrate them. This will also allow you to reflect on your transferable skills and not stress the lack of professional experience.
2. Be patient. The administrative process can be nerve-racking, but don’t let it put you off. It might be a good idea to have a Plan B to help you keep your mind off the status of your application. For example, I accepted a job in hospitality just to earn some extra cash and to keep me busy while I was waiting for the outcome.

Natasha Brown, Events & Social Media Intern

From the summer of 2021 to 2022, I was an Events and Social Media Intern with the University’s Careers Service which is part of the Careers & Global Opportunities department.

Like Zita, I found this opportunity while looking through The Internship Hub and thought it would suit me due to my experience working on a society’s social media. I also thought it would be a great experience and beneficial for my CV.

During my internship, I took on many different tasks (eg editing videos, attending careers events, creating social media content and using the University’s jobs portal Glasgow Careers). The wide range of responsibilities allowed me to understand the amount of organisation and creativity that goes into university events.

I gained many transferable skills working closely with a team that I will be able to use in the future. This experience has also shown me that the skills that Arts students like myself have are desirable and applicable in many kinds of jobs, even those not directly related to Arts.

Possibly the most beneficial thing I learnt was the career advice I picked up along the way. I think constantly discussing and producing content relating to careers has truly been invaluable as I have been able to gain knowledge that will help me in the future. I also acquired useful insight into the job searching process.

Louise Burns, Research & Policy Intern

I worked as a Research and Policy Intern on The Student Job Hub Project at the University for twelve weeks.

My main tasks included:

• Researching the definitions of part-time jobs and internships
• Reporting and making recommendations about the future shape of the project
• Undertaking other research and administration responsibilities alongside the Careers & Global Opportunities staff

One aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed about this internship was the flexibility as I was able to work at home and work in the office. This was essential for me because I had to commute to campus from my hometown.

In addition, I enjoyed that my ideas were always welcomed and considered to the same degree as other staff.

I applied through The Internship Hub on Glasgow Careers and received an invitation for a panel interview through Zoom in June 2021. I started my position as a Research and Policy Intern at the end of August and began my research straight away.

Throughout my internship, I developed interpersonal skills by interacting daily with internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, I built upon and developed key research skills that I initially gained through my studies at the University. The internship gave me the opportunity to develop key skills within a professional work environment which has been super valuable for my CV and beyond.

If anyone is considering applying for an internship with the University, I would strongly recommend them as an employer. They were accommodating about my timetable and provided a welcoming and inclusive environment where my creativity and ideas were encouraged. The internships at the University are also normally paid which is a bonus and can be hard to find.

I believe my internship with the University was a major factor in helping me get a graduate job offer. It allowed me to apply interpersonal and research skills that I learnt as a student in a professional environment. I also gained key networking skills and self-confidence which was pivotal in increasing my job prospects after I graduated.

As you can see, there’s a wide range of opportunities even within the same department. The three of us were all part of Careers & Global Opportunities, but we had very different roles. However, one thing that we all found useful is the career advice we gained which will surely help us in the future. You can be sure we will continue to use the Careers Service, and we encourage you do the same.