Interns get a step ahead

Working for an organisation temporarily before you graduate from university can be an excellent way of determining if you're embarking on the right career path.

Ross Buckley, partner at KPMG, says student internships are becoming more common.

"I think it's growing in popularity. It is getting more and more popular as employers see the benefits of it. I think it's all about identifying talent earlier."

For the interns it's also about getting a leg up on all the other graduates.

"When they do start as graduates they've had anywhere from four to six months head start on the others. That can help them with their career progression as well."

Most of the top accounting firms now have internship programmes.

KPMG recruits 20 interns a year for its Auckland and Wellington offices. Students in their second or third year are recruited between March and May to begin work in December. Most internships last between eight and 10 weeks.

KPMG interviews students on campus and selects those it wants to bring into the office for aptitude tests. Once selected, interns are aligned with a buddy to show them the ropes. They can choose which division they want to work in - audit, tax or business advisory services.

Interns are paid an hourly rate which is just shy of the graduate starting rate of $40,000. Buckley doesn't mind paying a decent wage to people who haven't graduated yet.

"For us, paying a salary of $17 or $18 an hour is not worth skimping on at all. I wouldn't want somebody to walk in and say, 'I think you're underpaying us'. I just think that sends the wrong message."

Successful interns are rewarded with a lot more than money. This year KPMG hired 80 graduates and had around 1200 applications. But for interns who perform well, employment after the internship is practically guaranteed.

"It gives us a little bit of a look-see or a bit of an insight on how they fit into the office, how quickly they've grasped the concepts and I guess the carrot at the end of the day is that if they work out really well, we're going to make them a job offer."

Buckley says the practical experience often helps the students with the remainder of their studies. Some interns will also extend their internship and work part-time while continuing at university.

"They get to experience our office, our culture, our client portfolio. Therefore it's in our interest to make sure it's a win-win because obviously they go back onto campus and share their experiences about working for the firm."

But internships are not all about the intern. In a tight labour market competition for the rising stars is tough.

"I'd say it's mutually beneficial for both sides. The trouble is you've got the big four chartered accountant firms, even some of the legal firms and the corporates all after the top 150-200 graduates. If you get them in a year or two earlier, you can secure the graduate and sign them up rather than going through a competitive recruiting campaign."

Michelle Southgate was a KPMG intern and is now an audit assistant at KPMG in Wellington.

She, like many of her friends, was offered more than one internship. She says completing her internship took some of the pressure off her.

"It was just getting your foot in the door. For my last part of uni the following year, I knew I already had a job so there was less pressure on my uni studies which made it a bit more enjoyable. It also gave me an idea of what auditing would be like and what I'd be facing."

The internship also took some pressure off of her first days at work.

"When I started the job I felt a lot more relaxed. I think I was a lot less stressed than some of the other grads. You kind of know the basic day-to-day process of the firm and the atmosphere."

For the public sector, internships are operated through the State Services Commission. Deputy commissioner Suze Wilson says it's a way of showing state agencies as an employer of choice.

"It's a really good chance to learn how organisations operate and how government operates. It's a really good chance to get in and have a look around and do some real work and have a real taste test of what it's going to be like when you finish your degree."

The internship programme has been running for three years. This year it offers 50 internships across categories including policy, research, analysis, IT, HR, science, stats and police. There are only 11 positions in Auckland and they are with the police force.