Emily Knowles - Discovery Internship Case Study

Second year History student Emily Knowles tells us about the Discovery Internship she undertook as a Classroom Learning Support Intern at Knotty Ash Primary School.

Why did you want to do a Discovery Internship?

I wanted to gain some experience in a classroom setting.

Where did you find out about the internship?

Through Unitemps, they sent an email saying they had published some internships so I had a look on their website.

Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties:

Helping students in the Classroom with their work often working 1:1 or in a small group. Helping students with reading.

What did the application and selection process involve, and how did you prepare for each stage?

I had to fill out a form with questions. I went to the CV Café and asked for help with what to write.

What help and support did you access from the Student Futures team?

I went to the CV Café and spoke to someone.

What relevant work experience / skills / volunteering / Student Union activities did you use during the selection process?

I was volunteering at a local Brownies at the time. I also said I had good communication and listening skills and that I was empathetic.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?

Definitely to do an internship or volunteering work whilst they are at university.

Would you do anything differently in terms of your employability if you were a first-year student again?

I would try and gain an internship in first-year and maybe some volunteering.

Is there any other advice or experiences you would like to mention not covered by the other questions?

This internship provided me with great experience in a classroom setting and I enjoyed my time doing it.

Support from the Student Futures team

If you want to talk about potential careers options with your degree, need help finding opportunities or want support with your CV, application forms or preparing for an interview, you can get advice and guidance by booking a 30-minute 1-2-1 careers meeting with a Careers and Employability Adviser from the LJMU Student Futures Team.  You can also come along to a Careers drop-in or CV Café which take place weekly at the Careers Zones for quick careers queries.

If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a side-hustle or have an idea that you want to explore further, email the Start-up Hub and a member of the team will be back in touch, or visit the Start-up Hub website.

For help finding part-time, temporary or casual you can fit around your studies, email the Unitemps team or visit their website.