What is the difference between internships and placements?

You might find yourself wondering "Are placements and internships the same in the UK?" and that's what we're here to answer in this blog along with giving some extra insight.

While both options can enhance your career prospects and provide you with valuable experience, there are some key differences you'll want to keep in mind. 

At AtkinsRéalis, we offer both summer and industrial placements that will set you up with key skills and enable you to gain invaluable industry insights. It's worth noting that at AtkinsRéalis in the UK, we don't offer internships.

Internships

What is an internship?

Internships can be suited to recent graduates or current students, much like with placements, you get the opportunity to gain practical skills and industry experience in a professional setting.

As short-term opportunities, internships give you a taste of what working in a new field is like before pursuing a career.

If you've been wondering "Do you get paid on internships?", the answer depends on a few factors such as the industry, duration, entry requirements, and the level of work you'll be doing. 

The UK Government states that interns are entitled to the National Minimum Wage if they count as a worker which means there is the promise of a future contract of work. 

However, employers do not legally have to pay the minimum wage for work shadowing, voluntary workers, or student internships as part of further or higher education.

Who are internships best suited for?

Internships can range in length from a few weeks to even a year. The job specification varies per the internship you take on. In some, you'll oversee tasks or projects, while in others, you might be more focused on shadowing senior professionals. 

You should weigh up what you'd like to get out of either an internship or placement when making your decision. Internships are suited for people looking for:

• Flexibility: internships are often shorter than placements (unless you're specifically seeking a summer placement).

• Trialling a career path: internships let you explore a role and your career goals without committing to a long-term position.

• CV building: even short internships provide you with valuable experience you can add to your CV.

Placements

Placements at AtkinsRéalis in the UK

At AtkinsRéalis, our work placements for students are designed to provide the chance to discover more about who we are and what we offer. There are plenty of benefits to pursuing our placement opportunities.

We care about providing students with a head start in their careers as they discover new ways to answer some of the world's biggest challenges.

We offer two types of placements:

1. Industrial placements: sometimes called 'year in industry' - these are designed for university students who can take a year out during their degree and work with an employer.They typically last 12 months.
2. Summer placements: these last for at least 8 weeks and are open to all degree years.

Why choose a placement with AtkinsRéalis

Our placement salaries change every year in line with the Real Living Wage and depend on the role, location, and whether you're on a summer or industrial placement.

Our top performing placement students have the opportunity to be fast-tracked onto our Graduate Development Programme upon completion of a successful placement. This means that you could bypass the graduate recruitment process and secure your permanent graduate role as you enter your final year of university so you can focus on your studies. 

Some other reasons to pursue our placements are:

• The rewards and benefits you can expect alongside the Real Living Wage.
• Opportunities enhance your career prospects with hands-on projects with support and mentorship
• Our previous placement students report that it has helped their degree studies by giving them insight into how theory and principles apply to real-world projects.

Who are placements best suited for?

While placements and internships have some similarities, they can each be suited to different people depending on what it is you're looking for in a career path. 

Work placements for students are suited to those looking for:

• In-depth industry experience: our placements give you a richer understanding of a specific role or career route. We help you to understand complex projects and develop specialized skills.

• A direct path into a role: placements can offer structured pipelines to full-time roles after graduation.

• Building a strong professional network: students on placements can gain mentors, work with like-minded peers, and develop a strong professional network which is valuable for future career growth.

Discover placements with AtkinsRéalis

If you're still looking for more information about our unique placement opportunities, make sure to read our placement FAQs and our page on everything you need to know about AtkinsRéalis' early careers. 

Browse our placement opportunities today.

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