Why complete an internship/work placement.
With increasing numbers of young people entering university, a degree is no longer enough to guarantee entry into your chosen career, especially into a demanding profession such as accountancy. If you need an edge when it comes to career development, one way is to complete an internship or work placement. Not only can it boost your CV, but it's also an opportunity to gain structured, focused work experience within a busy accountancy department.
Internships/placements can be as short as one week or last up to a year if part of a degree course. Competition for the best internships can be fierce so it is essential that you plan ahead to try and secure a place.
Experience and ACCA
ACCA recognises the value of undergraduate work placements by allowing any relevant experience gained whilst on placement to count towards the Practical Experience Requirements (PER) for the ACCA Qualification. Any student wishing to record their work experience whilst on a placement or internship, needs to join the free ACCA accelerate lite scheme in order to get access to a Trainee Development Matrix.
Find out more about the accelerate scheme
Find out more about the PER
How to find a Placement
ACCA has partnered with Rate My Placement, an organisation that informs students about graduate work placements. They have developed eight articles that can help guide students through all the stages involved, with input from employers, university placement or careers advisers and students themselves.
Why bother with a work placement or internship? 
What types of work placement or internships are there?
How do you find the right placement or internship?
How do you succeed with CVs, covering letters and online applications?
How do you succeed at interviews and assement centres?
How do you make a success of your placement or internship? The employer view!
How do you make a success of your placement or internship? The student view
What about placements or internships for students with disabilities?
Making the most of your placement
The National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) Quality Mark recognises and accredits employers who meet a national standard for work experience provision for students. ACCA has partnered with NCWE to provide some top tips for making the most of your work experience before, during and after your placement. Visit their website for further information and to search for placements.
Before
- Set some personal objectives for the period of employment before starting your placement. Ask yourself what you want to get out of it - what is it you want to learn about? The company, the industry, a particular role?
- Find out the dress code - don't be afraid to phone and check in advance. You'll be uncomfortable in a suit if everyone is more casual and even more so if it's the other way around!
During
- Don't be afraid to ask questions and take notes when being briefed by your boss at the outset - better to ask outright and be clear than make mistakes later.
- Keep a note of challenges you overcome each day and any problem solving required - this demonstrates initiative and prioritising skills, and is something to take away no matter what happens.
- Grab any chance to take on more responsibility and undertake new tasks - a sure way of developing new talents.
- Do the best job you possibly can - for self-satisfaction and the possibility of being asked back at Easter and summer breaks, and maybe even for that permanent position in the future.
- Ask for feedback from your employer and the people you work with - there may be room for improvement, plus successes and achievements are what you need to put on your CV.
- Make suggestions - just because you're a work experience student, it doesn't mean you don't have good ideas, and your colleagues will always appreciate seeing things from a new perspective - in fact, it is often part of the reason they want you there.
- Keep a diary of your thoughts throughout the placement - this will help you to add your achievements to your CV and will show you how far you've come.
- Work hard, but take the time to get to know your colleagues and enjoy the work atmosphere - after all, you may be spending more time there than you anticipated.
- Use the opportunity for networking, if you are not offered a permanent position or are not sure that this is the industry for you, talking to other colleagues will give you an idea of other careers/jobs and the all important contacts.
After
- Ask for a reference from your employer - this will stand you in good stead for moving on to a permanent job.
