It’s not unusual to associate internships, or structured work placements, with young undergraduate students. A large percentage of this group do undertake internships and find them to be an excellent way to develop relevant workplace experience, gain contacts in the sector they wish enter and to check out their career ideas. However if you think that internships are only for this group, you are mistaken. Many postgraduate students also take advantage of internships – and age is no barrier.

If you are unsure about whether an internship could be a realistic option, you may gain some encouragement from a BBC article ‘The rise of the middle-aged intern’ by Kate Stanton Business reporter. This provides examples of how middle aged professionals have used internships as a way to remarket themselves and to start a new phase of their working lives.

More information on internships and work experience, and how to find them, can be found on the Careers Service website.