Gen Y is serious about career progression, starting with the right internship
Once upon a time, the main responsibility of an intern was to make tea and spend hours photocopying each day. Thankfully this is (largely) not the case anymore. Today’s youth are looking to get more out of internships than just a mention on their CV. And this is where RateMyPlacement comes in.
Since being founded in 2007, the RateMyPlacement platform has been encouraging forward-thinking companies in the UK to revolutionise their internship programmes to empower Gen Yers with greater responsibility, in the hope of attracting and retaining the best talent. RateMyPlacement.co.uk is the UK’s leading resource for career-conscious students looking to get a head start in their career.
“For them [Gen Yers], they can see people making a difference instantaneously and that inspires them to similarly follow suit.”
“Gen Y are one of the first connected generations that feel they can see the whole world at the touch of a button,” says Ollie Sidwell, co-founder of RateMyPlacement.co.uk. “For them, they can see people making a difference instantaneously and that inspires them to similarly follow suit.”
Gen Yers are channelling this passion in the workplace, too. They’re driven by the prospect of rapid career progression, with 91% considering it a top priority when looking for a job. They want to get stuck in and get the most they can out of a job, right at the beginning of their career.
Based in Brixton, RateMyPlacement is helping Gen Y and Z pick the roles and internships that offer the best experience, in the hope that they can start their career on the right foot from the outset. RateMyPlacement’s specialist job search site also allows previous recruits to review their experience gained in a workplace. This gives other graduates valuable insight into the working world, helping them to make better informed decisions. After all, 57% of Gen Yers already do their research before applying for a new role by browsing through a company’s website.
“It’s about harnessing their ambition and helping drive them to achieve their goals, because they’re going to be your goals, too.”
In 2018, RateMyPlacement surpassed 50,000 reviews of over 2,314 companies on its platform, and advertised more than 1,500 jobs last year alone. “Young people want to fast-track promotions and pay rises — they really believe in themselves,” says Sidwell. “So, it’s about harnessing their ambition and helping drive them to achieve their goals, because they’re going to be your goals, too.”
With their sights set firmly on the future of their careers, Gen Yers don’t want to spend time in internships that don’t challenge them or help them grow. With the help of resources like RateMyPlacement, they can be empowered to know which internships will help them thrive and start proving their potential from Day One.
Canvas8 is the leading consumer behavioural insight specialist. Masterfully combining research, trends and strategy, Canvas8 deliver the inside scoop to businesses about what consumers really want.
