COVID-19’s Impact on Internships and Entry-Level Employability

Written by Lewis Hodgkiss, published on 25 June 2020

On the day that Boris Johnson announced hospitality companies are allowed to open their doors on the 4th July, it appears that the UK is seemingly being jump started again.

It is no secret that the last few months have been catastrophic for the economy; Global Economic Prospects stated recently,

"...the deep recessions triggered by the pandemic are expected to leave lasting scars through lower investment, an erosion of human capital through lost work and schooling, and fragmentation of global trade and supply linkages."

The Impact on Entry-level Candidates

The fragmentation of global trade trickles all the way down the ladder infecting every rung on the way down. But, as the old adage says, 'last in, first out' and this has affected entry-level employees at creative & technology companies. With pay cuts (Grey) and freezing on new hiring’s and even redundancies at companies like GroupM, the repercussions are heavy (source: The Drum).

First, those that have been laid off require new positions within the industries and with an influx of job-seekers and a lack of jobs; competition is fiercer than ever. This has affected me personally; even unpaid internships that I have applied for have been swooped up by people with years of experience. Standing out has never been more important.

Secondly, jobs, internships and placement years that have been scheduled for 2020 are being scrapped left, right and centre. This has left so many young people: graduates, apprentices, interns and entry-level hopeful candidates in the lurch. Personally, I have seen two internships postponed and switched to a virtual replacement; adaptability is a key skill that is more important now than probably ever. The Guardian stated that over a quarter of companies anticipate hiring fewer graduates because of the pandemic, according to a survey last month by the Institute of Student Employers.

Cancelled or Frozen Internships

To have an internship cancelled and frozen can be extremely demoralising. Interviews and assessment days are not easy and for them to have all that dashed can leave you feeling pretty despondent. To truly grasp the level to which companies have cut back on internships, the resource ismyinternshipcancelled.com displays excellently the world’s largest companies and their response to the pandemic.

Virtual Internships

So where does this leave young people at the beginning of their careers? According to Verdict.co.uk, internships and graduate opportunities are up 30%; but this is the rise of the virtual internship. Companies such as Credit Suisse, Deutsche and Goldman Sachs are running online programmes, which of course have their limitations. The Bright Network have introduced an online internship experience free for any graduates aged eighteen and over.

A virtual internship can provide you with the most in-depth theoretical knowledge, but actual working experience is what employers truly value.

Keep Your Chins Up and Adapt

Of course there are other jobs and opportunities out there; it is just using this time to get yourself, your skillset and your applications in the best shape possible. With no word yet on when offices will begin to open and studies like Bupa finding 65% of 2000 respondents expressing anxiety about returning work, the face of office work could be changed forever. Whilst we await the return to normality, there is no point sitting idly by.

Digiworks

Charities are a prime example of working through crises and always require people to help out. I am one of those volunteers and it just so happens that my charity Dragon Eggs Digital have introduced Digiworks, after receiving funding from The City of Westminster Charitable Trust’s Community Contribution Fund.

Digiworks provides inspiring prospects to young people in Westminster aged 18 – 25, by teaching an array of new digital skills. The free programme will run to December 2020 and offers young people a springboard to embark on exciting digital careers. The courses are going to cover topics such as starting a YouTube channel, optimising online content and analysing digital metrics. Participants will also be able to learn about digital fabrication technologies including 3D printing and vinyl cutting.

Marijhaa Andre, the Director at Dragon Eggs Digital, said: There is currently a great need for talent in London in digital marketing, including entry level roles such as web content creators and digital marketers, Digiworks provides great opportunities for young people from Black, Asian Minority Ethnic communities and disadvantaged backgrounds living in Westminster to get involved and help set out their own digitally-skilled career paths.

Most crucially, it does not end at the skills you could learn. At the end of the programme participants will be connected with further education, volunteering and entry level employment opportunities to bring into practice the skills they have acquired during their time with Dragon Eggs Digital and Clear Village Charitable Trust.

For all enquiries and information – hello@dragoneggsdigital.org