Five Reasons Why Every Student Should Do an Internship

Wanna stand out from the crowd? 👷‍♀️

This article has been presented in partnership with GradConnection.

Whether you’ve got a five-year plan or are just trying to pass the semester, an internship could be the move that sets you up for success and helps you figure things out along the way.

It may seem a bit redundant to apply for an internship amidst a busy study and work schedule.

It’s not just about taking meeting notes and fetching coffees. Internships are a great way to graduate with some street cred on your resume.

Employers tend to open applications for internships in July and August so it’s a good time to start looking. And in 2025, there are heaps of ways to source internships or even graduate jobs, through reputable platforms like GradConnection. Their platform allows you to filter jobs based on your field of study and type of role you’re looking for too!

Here’s why you should seriously consider adding the job title of “intern” to your resume.

Put what you’ve learnt in your degree, into practice.

Have you ever spent time in class taking in information, scribbling down notes, or typing up your assignments and wondered ‘how will this matter?’

Doing an internship puts what you’re learning into perspective.

It provides a great opportunity for you to pinpoint what part of your degree you might need some additional training or experience in. And the opportunity to ask for some experience in that area.

GradConnection’s listings make it easy to spot internships that offer the kind of hands-on learning you’re looking for, so you can build skills where it matters most.

Find out if you like the industry you’ve studied in.

When you take on an internship there’s an opportunity to find out what the industry you’ve studied in is really about.

No matter what you studied – accounting, marketing, linguistics or engineering – there’s so many different facets of the industry you won’t discover until you’re working in it.

During an internship you could discover what you prefer within your industry. And this will hopefully make looking for a graduate job easier.

Set yourself apart from other candidates.

When it comes time to looking for a job after you finish studying, you’re not the only one looking.

Heaps of students will be applying for the same jobs as you. But by doing an internship you could set yourself apart from other potential applicants.

GradConnection links you with employers who value students with that extra edge, making it more accessible to land interviews and opportunities.

Employers won’t just be looking for good grades. They’ll be wanting to hire employees who know how to work in a team, can put what they’ve learnt in their degree into action and know what it’s like working in a professional environment.

In a stack of applicants, prior experience like an internship will help you get noticed.

Grow your network.

Other than learning new skills, an internship is also a great opportunity to meet other people working in your field of study.

Whether it be a manager, supervisor or team member, these are all people who could become a great industry contact in the future. And it might even open doors for future job opportunities or mentorships.

Especially when you’ve just finished studying and are new to the industry, it’s a great chance to meet new people. And you never know: at the end of your internship the connections you make could lead to a full-time job within the company!

Boost your confidence.

When you finish uni or TAFE, you can come out feeling a bit lost and unsure of where life is going to go.

Doing an internship is one way of building your confidence within the professional world. It gives you the chance to test the waters and get feedback from people who are the experts.

By the time graduation comes around you’ll feel more prepared for the workforce.

If you’re ready to start looking, GradConnection have a variety of internships and grad jobs across many industries, all across Australia.

You can even create a student profile so you’ll be alerted when a role comes up that’s relevant to you.

Happy applying!