Applying for internships can be tough. The competition is real. And it’s much harder if you’re from an underrepresented group. Yes, there are barriers for many but there are a lot of deserving students who have more barriers than others.

‘Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not’: this is why in 2020, 10,000 Interns Foundation was created to address this issue. With a goal of achieving 10,000 internships to underrepresented groups, the Foundation has been busy getting into unis to spread the word.

And here at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), we’re all for it. With a huge passion for improving our equity, inclusivity, and diversity, it’s a no-brainer why we were really excited for Julie from 10,000 Interns to speak to our lovely students about how they can get involved.

Here, Julie, the Community Engagement Manager at the Foundation, tells us more.

The mission

“Our mission is to support and champion underrepresented talent. The 10,000 Black Interns programme supports and champions Black students and graduates to get into a range of different sectors via paid internships.

“We have hundreds of organisations pledging into the programme. We cover a range of sectors that applicants can apply for up to three for. We work with the likes of Goldman Sachs, Edelman, IBM, and Deutsche Bank.

“There really is a broad range. There are also small organisations and start-ups where you can start a great career; they can offer a great trajectory because they are a bit smaller. So, we always tell our applicants to keep an open mind.”

The application process

“I would recommend people apply for the programme because it is an access pool. Not only can you apply for up to three sectors, but it gives you the opportunity to focus on yourself - your skills, your experience, and what you can offer a company - rather than focusing on what a specific firm is looking for.

“The application process is really about a celebration of yourself. Through this process, our applicants realise how talented and resourceful they are.

“When an applicant applies, they can select workstreams related to their interests. They can select location preferences as well. Our algorithm then matches the application with an internship opportunity.”

The advice

“The first thing I would say is that people often ask me about how competitive it is. But what does it really matter if the only thing you can do to not get the opportunity is to not apply?

“I think we shouldn't try and put extra barriers in our way. Not applying for programmes such as this, that are trying to really open and give the equity of opportunity, is almost a self-imposed barrier. So, I would say focus on yourself, your strengths, and just apply.

“A key thing I would also say is don't rush an application. Yes, we want you to apply by the deadline, which is Sunday 29 October, but we want to make sure that your application is successful. So, take your time to put an application in that you’d be proud of.

“Lastly, don’t discount any of the places that may choose you for an internship. You may have targeted a certain organisation for an internship, but you risk turning down an internship from a different organisation that may well could have offered a fantastic learning experience and a job at the end of it.”

The preparation

“Throughout the application pre-internship process, the Foundation supports that entire journey. We support our students and graduates through pre-application training, pre-interview training, and we then support them as they get hired and onboarded. We also have a mentoring programme that supports our interns throughout their entire placement.

“We also run pre-internship training with our organisations, so they are as fully prepared for their interns as they can be.

“We also have another programme called 10,000 Able Interns, which is focused on disabled students and graduates. Of course, people can apply for both if they are both Black and disabled, but the 10,000 Able Interns programme is a little smaller and doesn’t directly focus on ethnicity.

“I work on both programmes. The Interns Foundation is also looking at other groups we can support. So, watch this space!”

The celebrations

Lastly, we asked Julie if there was a Black woman who has been a huge inspiration to her.

(Yes, this may seem a bit of a wild-card question, but in light of our Saluting our Sisters campaign for Black History-365, we love to keep the conversation alive since our work at Black on the Square.)

“I've seen lots of young Black women go through university and become trailblazers in their sector. One of these women is my close friend, Tracey Abayeta.

“She works at Lazard, which is a private bank. Previously to that she worked at a charity called SEO London, which does similar work in diversity and inclusion. She does this kind of work outside of her job as well. She does podcasts. She offers mentoring programmes. She works closely with the community to spread the message of diversity and inclusion.

“She connects with young people in particular to talk about networking, their self-worth and how to broaden their skills so they can thrive both in out of the workplace. She balances a lot of things in her life. And alongside all of this, she's smashing it at work.”

 

We’re so excited for our students to get involved and apply for an internship through the 10,000 Interns Foundation. And thanks to Julie for chatting with us!

And if this is the year that you start looking at going to university, and you want to choose a uni that genuinely advocates for and supports minority groups to thrive and succeed, then CCCU is the place for you.