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Get a foot on the career ladder with an apprenticeship or internship

LOOKING to get your foot on the career ladder? Then consider and internship or an apprenticeship.

Both are ‘earn as you learn’ schemes providing a salary plus training, but while an internship is a like a long period of work experience, an apprenticeship is a permanent entry-level job.

Internships and apprenticeships are great ways to build your career and learn while earning an income
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Internships and apprenticeships are great ways to build your career and learn while earning an income

Increasingly, many internships are now paid, allowing more working class students to take part and gain valuable skills and experience.

While most internships take place in the summer holidays, some firms offer shorter virtual internships or two-week work placements.

So if you’re ready to get in with the internship crown, here’s how with Sun Jobs.

What is the difference between and internship and an apprenticeship?

Both are entry-level ways into a company or industry. An apprenticeship offers training in different levels from Level 2, which is equivalent to a GCSE, right up to Level 7 – equal to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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You’ll be employed by the company and most apprentices stay on with their firms in a permanent role after the course has finished. An internship is like a ‘mini apprenticeship’.

You will work for a company for anything between a week to a year, getting training and work experience. However it is not a permanent role.

Are internships paid?

Interns working in the UK should be paid, as legally anyone who's defined as a 'worker' must at least earn minimum wage. 

However some firms call internships work placements or work experience which have a different legal status.

Check before you commit if the employer will pay you or contribute expenses such as travel money. Find out more at .

How can an internship help me?

As well as gaining valuable skills and industry insight, you’ll begin to build a network of contacts you can sue throughout your career.

Studies show around 60 per cent of interns go on to gain a job at their employer or another employer in a similar sector, so taking one can allow you to try out an industry before you commit to it.

How will an apprenticeship help me?

Becoming an apprentice can help you get into a career and earn professional qualifications, including a degree, without incurring costs or getting into debt.

Around 97 per cent of apprentices stay in employment after taking their apprenticeship and 65 per cent receive a promotion, according to the The Apprentice Academy.

Famous former apprentices include chef Jamie Oliver, business mogul Karren Brady and TV architect George Clarke.

WANT to step up and start your career? Here are the best internships and apprenticeships on Sun Jobs this week.

Keen on Crypto? This Software Engineer Intern will teach you all you need to know.

Software Engineer Intern, Crypto Compliance & Finance (Summer), Ripple, London

The Job: Ripple is hiring a  with a focus on crypto compliance and finance for a summer 2024 placement.

What You’ll Do: Paired with an experienced mentor, you will help build the next generation of payment/crypto compliance, financial accounting, and risk monitoring services, tackling technical challenges and projects.

You’ll Need: You’ll be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, preferably in computer science or a related field. Knowledge of Javascript, React, Python and other programming languages is essential, along with excellent debugging, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Apply Now: , along with other opportunities at . 

BANK on this UBS apprenticeship to launch your finance career

2024 Apprenticeship Program – Global Markets, ubs, London

The Job: ubs is hiring for its , which offers a salaried position in investment banking, while completing training for a recognised qualification. 

What You’ll Do: You will assist in day-to-day operational running of the desk, which could include a range of tasks from trade processing to trade allocation, offering guidance when managing client relationships, and ensuring there is a consistency of both message and content delivery to clients across the business.

You’ll Need: Candidates for this four-year degree apprenticeship position will have completed their A-levels or equivalent by September 2024, and achieved BBB, along with GCSEs or equivalent qualification in the English language (5 or above) and Mathematics (6 or above). Apply Now: , or see more jobs at .

LEARNING on the job is easy PC on this super cyber internship

Software Engineer Intern, Northrop Grumman, Cheltenham

The Job: Northrop Grumman is hiring a  to provide support for all kinds of cyber and non-cyber tasks, based in Cheltenham.

What You’ll Do: You will gain experience in various software and related disciplines, from cyber security to architectural design, systems engineering, application development, DevSecOps and software development methodologies such as Agile, among other areas.

You’ll Need: You will be on a degree pathway (in software engineering, computer science or a related discipline) with a passion for software, computing, online computing and cyber ethics, and proven experience writing code in Java and Python.

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Apply Now: , or explore more open jobs at .

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