Perspectives on internship / contract roles

Question

I have 5-10 years of experience and have recently been out of the job market. I'm planning to find a new role ASAP, but realistically speaking, it might take 3-6 months. Therefore, I'm considering doing interim jobs while I continue my job search.

My concern is - assuming the interim job is related to the full-time job, how would the employer view this experience? While freelance is more common, I'm also evaluating contractor roles or even internships. These 2 roles can allow me to gain more new skill sets and experience, such as doing a contractor corporate role (I've seen 4-month contractor roles for maternity leave backup) or an internship at PE.

What's your view on these 2 roles? Given that I am not a current MBA student but a professional who has 5-10 years of experience, do these roles make sense?

Answer 1

Hello,

I think more experience is always good. Especially if you are looking to transition into a new industry, doing an internship or a short-term contractor stint can be a good way of picking up skills, showing your interest in the field, and starting to build up a network. If you happen to find a full-time role quicker than the time frame you suggested I would opt for that, however your strategy of searching for full-time jobs while doing an internship/shorter-term contract position makes a lot of sense to me.

Answer 2

Hi there,

Q: I'm also evaluating contractor roles or even internships. What's your view on these 2 roles? Given that I am not a current MBA student but a professional who has 5-10 years of experience, do these roles make sense?

If the contractor/internship position aligns with the next step in your career, there is nothing wrong with pursuing it.

Whether they are the best option depends on the opportunity cost – i.e., what else you could do in the meantime. If the alternative is to do nothing, they are most likely a better option. On the other hand, if you do manage to get a full-time job offer you like, I would go for that directly.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your job loss!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, considering interim roles such as contractor or internship positions can be a strategic move in your situation. Since you have 5-10 years of experience, taking a contractor role shows adaptability and willingness to contribute.
Moreover, regarding internships, while they may seem unconventional for a professional with your level of experience, if they allow you to gain new skills or insights, or if it is in a field that you are particularly interested in breaking into, it might be worth considering. Here, clear communication during the application and interview process about why you are interested in the role will be key.
Lastly, I would advise you to carefully weigh these interim roles against your overall career goals. Make sure that the roles will not only fill a gap but provide meaningful experience that can enhance your future applications.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 4

Hi,

I am going to assume that your end goal is consulting/MBB, given that's not entirely clear from your question.

If so, any relevant experience does add not only to the CV but to your actual skills/capabilities as well, so this is always a positive.

The key challenge/concern however is whether you are able to land the most relevant/prestigious internships during this phase. Reason is because some of these places may prefer candidates from a more ‘conventional’ route. But if say you were able to do an internship in either the investment or deal team at anyone of the global PE shops, this would definitely be a value add to your CV.

All the best!

Answer 5

Positively.

Absolutely, 100% do work that is related to consulting to the greatest extent possible. If you can get contractor roles that build your resume in the interim, this is fantastic!

Answer 6

Hi there!

Interim roles are perceived as you showing a continued interest in that particular field.

So there's nothing wrong with it.

Just make sure you position and explain them well in your CV.

The question that I would ask is whether you are doing these sort of roles because you think IT LOOKS GOOD or because you WANT TO.

Realistically speaking, if you have already all this work experience and financial are not a problem, you could also just take the time to reflect on what you want to do next and focus on executing that plan as well as possible.

Feel free to drop me a line by the way and I'll put you in touch with two agencies that handle freelance consultants and match them with employers.

Best,
Cristian