No matter what career path you have in mind, a good quality internship can give your CV a massive boost.
But how much you get out of your internship is just as important as the high-profile company name you get to add to your list of work experience.
A good quality internship will help you gain new skills in the workplace, network with knowledgeable people and - crucially - get real-life experience of what your future working life might be like.
We asked two major providers of internships - Ernst & Young and RBS - to give us an insight into what potential interns can expect from their time at the company. Here's what they had to say.
Ernst & Young
What kind of work do your interns typically do and how much responsibility might they have?
How do you choose your interns? What can people do to make themselves stand out?
How much prior experience do you need from potential interns?
Is it realistic for interns to expect training or mentorship during their time with the company?
What is the biggest 'do' and the biggest 'don't' for any intern?
How common is it for your interns to gain full-time employment with the company?
RBS
What kind of work do your interns typically do and how much responsibility might they have?
How do you choose your interns? What can people do to make themselves stand out?
How much prior experience do you need from potential interns?
Is it realistic for interns to expect training or mentorship during their time with the company?
What is the biggest 'do' and the biggest 'don't' for any intern?
How common is it for your interns to gain full-time employment with the company?