Intern story: Communities Programme Project Assistant at National Literacy Trust, London

• Internship Organisation: National Literacy Trust, London
• Internship Role: Communities Programme Project Assistant
• Length of Internship: 3 months (Extended for further 3 months)

After completing my degree, I worked in various menial roles on zero hours contracts. I applied for many jobs in the third sector and was unsuccessful as I didn’t have the necessary experience. An internship seemed like the perfect opportunity to get a foot in the door.

I underestimated how much I would learn and develop during the course of the internship. My tasks included fundraising prospecting, writing a range of materials, event planning, qualitative research, report writing (some quantitative), conversing with external stakeholders, and a wide range of administration tasks.

I am more comfortable and confident communicating in a professional setting and have had the opportunity to attend lots of events, work with many different teams, and become fully immersed in the culture of the organisation.

This internship cemented my desire to pursue a career in the third sector. While I have long felt this to be my preferred destination, this experience ignited a real passion for the work that is going on throughout the sector. The internship has given me lots of practical experience and concrete skills which I can now use to market myself to future employers. That the internship led to the offer of a permanent position here is the most concrete example of how it has benefited my future career.

I would certainly recommend Essex Interns as it is a fantastic service which has offered me the chance to spend time at two amazing organisations. I’ve met many great people, gained lots of experience and remained at the National Literacy Trust as a permanent employee. It can be really difficult to get a foot in the door if you don’t have much experience, but Essex Interns can provide this chance.