Originally published July 2020, updated June 2026

We're here to break down why you should do an internship to set you up for success, all the different kinds of internships available to you and how they benefit your graduate job hunt. Only a minority of university students secure an internship in the earlier years of their studies, which helps them stand out to graduate employers due to several beneficial factors. Internships are still one of the strongest ways to build experience before applying for graduate jobs and programs.

There are no shortages of options around how to get an internship as well as the different experiences on offer. Flagged by successfully hired graduates as a major advantage, internship experience can help you demonstrate that you can operate in a professional environment and turn your degree into practical results alongside a team or company.

Luckily, SEEK Grad has these kinds of vetted opportunities in its internships section. Even if you aren't quite sure what is best for you, registering an account can help you keep across internship opportunities as they pop up.

Even though not required, work experience is something that stands out to graduate employers, as not all students have this to draw on when applying for jobs. It also gives you concrete examples of what you achieved and the outcomes you created, which becomes incredibly useful when you're writing applications or answering interview questions.

Many successful graduates who have entered the workforce have said they made valuable connections that helped them secure their graduate position through an internship. Working within a business gives you a chance to impress and prove to team members that you're a valuable asset and great to work with. Even when it doesn't lead directly to a role, those connections can still help you stand out later through referrals, recommendations or stronger industry knowledge.

Why internships matter

Internships give you something that uni alone often can't: practical experience. They show employers that you can take what you've learnt in class and apply it in a professional environment. They also give you stronger examples to use in future applications, interviews and assessment centres.

They can also open doors. Many students and grads build valuable industry connections during internships, and those connections can lead to referrals, references, return offers, or simply a better understanding of where they want to go next. Vacation programs in particular are often used by larger employers as a pathway into full-time graduate hiring.

And just as importantly, internships help you work out what you do and do not want. That is a big win. It is much better to learn during a short internship that a role is not for you than to discover that after signing on for a full graduate program.

What kind of internships are available to students and graduates?

Paid internships

In many cases, paid internships can behave in a similar way to a part-time job where the intern works in an ongoing part-time capacity. This might be a few hours a day, or a few full days of work at a time, but generally it is designed to fit around your schedule while you are at university.

Summer vacation programs

Offered by many of the large employers who run formal graduate programs, summer vacation programs are generally held over the end-of-year holiday period, allowing students to work for 6–12 weeks full-time, get hands-on experience and tackle longer-term projects. Summer vacation programs are often used by employers to identify graduates they would like to hire full-time at the end of their studies, so completing one can go a long way towards securing a grad position.

Virtual internships

Virtual internships are now a normal option for students and grads, allowing you to work on case studies or projects that reflect real-world business problems. They still give you direct exposure to employers and can be a strong way to build skills when an in-person internship is not possible.

Work-integrated learning

Work Integrated Learning is a common program run by universities where a placement is structured to be part of a university course or paper to supplement theoretical learnings with real-world experience. These can include paid placements, but many times they are unpaid. Regardless, they still contribute towards your university degree while helping you gain experience.

This is generally the most preferred way recommended by universities to undertake unpaid work experience. In most cases, the university will be able to connect you with employers, but you are also usually welcome to find your own positions that the university can help assess to make sure you are not being taken advantage of and that the placement counts towards your degree.

Unpaid internships

Many students will take an unpaid internship because relevant experience is the most valuable thing they can get. In most cases, and according to the Fair Work Ombudsman, unpaid internships should be focused around being a short-term work experience placement rather than being part of a business's core operations.

If you are considering an unpaid internship in 2026, it is worth checking current Fair Work guidance before accepting the role.

If you can't land a formal internship

If you're unable to undertake a formal internship for whatever reason, don't worry — it's not the end of the world. There are a number of other things you can leverage, like casual employment, volunteering, project work, university activities and other practical experience that still help build your story when you apply for graduate roles.