The internship process: what does the recruiter look for?

Predominantly exclusively considering students in their penultimate year of university study, a flurry of internship opportunities become available towards the end of autumn term and the beginning of spring term, with deadlines for applications ending as late as March.

So in light of upcoming interviews and consequent outcomes, The Yorker examines the process of an internship application by talking to a graduate recruiter working for a London consultancy firm.

The Application

1. The Curriculum Vitae

An applicant will normally fill out an online form with their basic details and academic history, detailing examination grades and university progress up to present day.

A few short questions might also be posed, asking an applicant to explain why the want to work for the firm, and maybe what they expect to be doing as an intern on a day to day basis. Finally, applicants will be asked to attach a CV. The first task for graduate recruiters looking at possible interns is the screening of CVs.

Recruiter: “Typically we will look for solid grades, and the main indicator of this would be a predicted degree result of a 2.1."

In addition to academic potential and achievement, recruiters look for the pursuit of activities outside the classroom and in the workplace.

R: "Don’t only think of hobbies you may have, think about specific examples which clearly exhibit enthusiasm for things outside your course and which show leadership skills."

With today’s ever increasingly international climate, the knowledge of foreign languages is also useful in advancing your application prospects, while any relevant work experience is duly noted.

2. Online Testing

Many applicants will be familiar with the next stage which consists of an online numeracy test, which applicants are often invited to sit should their CV stand up to the screener’s scrutiny.

Designed to assess the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts, successful completion of this will often lead to a second online test, this one concerning verbal reasoning; the ability to logically ascertain given statements according to information provided.

R: "Numerical and verbal tests are assessed in a number of ways. Some tests use negative scoring – so if you get one question wrong they remove a point. However, most others use positive scoring.

"After that, there is always a threshold for those who get through. Either the threshold is a set percentage meaning 50% will be the pass mark, or it will be graded by the performance of the group that year, meaning 50% of applicants who take the test will get through."

3. Interview

Upon successful completion, candidates will then be invited to the firm’s office to sit an interview, barring any extenuating circumstances in which case the interview may be carried out over the telephone.

Often, these will be carried out within a competency based framework, with the interviewer asking an applicant to think of examples from their personal history which relate to competency areas such as communication, adaptability and the achievement of goals.

Furthermore, candidates may be subject to a 'fit’ interview, where recruiters test how well they think someone would mesh in with their firm.

R: "We look for people with drive, ambition, enthusiasm and an interest in our firm and industry.

"During the interview, we need candidates to present themselves confidently and articulately. Their application will not be carried out any further if the candidate does not meet our requirements."

Applicants no doubt have their own personal agendas for pursuing internship opportunities; these may range from a desire to actually pursue a career in the field the firm works in, to the simple fact that getting paid £20K pro rata to work in a professional office for two months boosts the CV and beats stacking shelves for £5.25 an hour.

However, what is it firms hope to offer interns and what do they hope to get in return?

R: "By offering internships we hope to give talented individuals a chance to experience our industry.

"Not only will an internship help them make a decision about their careers, it will also improve their employability, as interns will receive access to training and work experience in a practical and thoroughly professional environment. Hopefully it will be an environment they will wish to be a part of at the end of their time at university!"

For information on graduate prospects, why not visit www.prospects.ac.uk or the Careers Sevice website.

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