Suu and her colleagues enjoying a drink

The Heineken sign, a client of the Monday Project

Suu's desk space

Career Lab UK Summer Internships are an exclusive opportunity to undertake a six-or eight-week paid internship with a UK employer during the summer vacation. In 2023, there were over 150 internship vacancies exclusive to second or penultimate-year students at Sussex.

We connected with Suu Rupar, a BA Sociology student, about her Career Lab Summer Internship with The Monday Project in the summer of 2023. 

What subject did you study at Sussex? 

I’m currently going to be in my final year studying BA Sociology. As my course did not have a placement year, the Career Lab summer internships were a great way for me to gain valuable work experience.

Did you take part in any activities whilst you were at Sussex? E.g., study abroad, societies, volunteering, internship, placement, part-time job. 

I worked part-time within the university, which was being a Student Connector and NSS Agent (promoting a final-year student survey). I also volunteered to be a mentor in the Buddy scheme, in which I got paired with a student from Laos and have become good friends with her. I like going to the Language Café to learn languages and make friends too.

What internship did you take part in?

I was offered a Marketing Research intern position at The Monday Project, which took place during the summer of 2023. It was a hybrid role and the office was based in Lewes, which wasn’t too far of a commute.

Can you tell us a little about what your work involves, and what you enjoy about it? 

It is quite different day to day but it involves qualitative research such as phone interviews, moderating online platforms and doing team discussions to analyse data. I enjoy it because it gives me variety and I get to work on many different projects, allowing me to be proactive. For example, I had to travel up to Notts to help conduct interviews at a pub. I also had my own project to work on, which was very rewarding at the end to see it all come together.

What was your experience of the scheme like?

I learnt useful skills such as creative storytelling and interviewing. I love the working environment as my colleagues and I felt close-knit and we worked in a lovely office space while having occasional work lunches together and tea in the afternoon. They were helpful, answering all my questions and giving me guidance. The work style was super collaborative and I liked how we could easily share our ideas.

Did you need to have any previous knowledge or skills in the field before applying?

I never had experience in the marketing field, however, I think market research specifically is more desirable when you have the research skills, such as doing qualitative or quantitative research. During the interview, my company liked that I had the skill set they were looking for, as I’ve learnt them in Sociology.

What advice would you give to students who are interested in a similar role? E.g. How can our current students build a career in your sector; what are the starter roles?  

As there are a lot of roles within marketing, don’t be afraid to try new things as long as you have a realistic goal in your mind. If you have a specific area of interest try to connect with people who work in it, learn more and keep a look out for internships as they’re always a good way to start! 

Interested?

Career Lab UK Summer Internships are open to all second, third and final-year undergraduate students. Applications open in March 2024. Early applications are advised, as vacancies may close at short notice.

The programme is part of Career Lab, a series of opportunities designed to develop students' skills, experiences and confidence, to help boost career prospects. Places are prioritised for students from underrepresented backgrounds, and we particularly welcome your application.

Further information: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/careers/career-lab/uk-summer-internship