Not every "internship" is worth your time. Some are genuine springboards; others are unpaid labour dressed up as opportunity. Learn the warning signs so you invest your weeks in a placement that actually develops you.
Red flags in the advert
- All take, no give - lots about what you will "help with", nothing about what you will learn.
- Vague role - no clear tasks, tools or structure described.
- Endless or unpaid with no path - long unpaid stints with no route to a paid role.
- "Rockstar" hype with no substance - buzzwords instead of a real learning plan.
Red flags in the interview
- They cannot describe a typical week or who will supervise you.
- No mention of feedback, mentoring or outcomes.
- Pressure to commit immediately.
Ask the questions in what to ask during the interview - evasive answers are your signal.
Red flags once you start
- You are given only admin or unsupervised grunt work.
- No one has time to teach you.
- The goalposts on "converting to a paid role" keep moving.
The safest alternative
A managed placement removes most of this risk. A digital marketing course with internship provides a structured, supervised internship designed around your learning - digital marketing with training and internship, not a gamble on whoever will take you.
Next step
Protect your time. Choose a placement that is built to develop you. LSBUK's Digital Marketing in Practice does exactly that. Contact admissions.