How an internship can kick-start your career

An internship can be the bridge between university and the workplace, giving students the opportunity to put their learning into practice. While Mackenzie Cini and Curtis Newbitt-Hill have taken different career paths, both agree that the experience is invaluable. 

Like many university students, Mackenzie grew up in a regional town in NSW before moving to Wollongong to study engineering. Now in her third year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining), she has gained hands-on experience across four coal and gold mine sites in NSW. 

For UOW graduate Curtis, an internship during his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws became the first step towards his legal career. Today, he is a Senior Associate at Brander Smith McKnight, the same firm where he completed his internship.

Placement secured

Mackenzie secured her first placement through her academic excellence and interest in the industry with the UOW Glencore Corporate Scholarship. The experience increased her interest in the field, becoming what she recalls as “my first foot in the door” of mining. 

Curtis secured his internship through UOW’s Legal Internship Programme, completing a survey about his interests in law before being placed at Brander Smith McKnight (BSM). 

“For many undergraduates it can be difficult to conceptualise the daily life of a lawyer with just the academic knowledge alone, so I was keen to get a peek,” Curtis said. 

With UOW offering workshops and events throughout the year through societies, academics and clubs, Mackenzie also highlights the importance of making the most of these opportunities to connect with industry professionals. 

“These events gave me a better understanding of the application process,” Mackenzie said. 

Curtis also demonstrates how an internship can become the beginning of a longer-term career. There are currently 11 lawyers at BSM who all began their legal careers’ as UOW interns.  

“These former interns and UOW students are now outstanding lawyers that I am proud to work alongside," Curtis said. 

Working with professionals in the field

One of the great benefits from completing an internship is working alongside industry professionals. For Mackenzie, working closely with engineers and operators allowed her to ask questions, learn from their expertise and gain practical insights, which helped her understand how a mine runs from the ground up. 

"University gave me the technical grounding to understand mining operations, but being able to apply that knowledge on site has deepened my understanding," she said. 

For Curtis, his internship provided an opportunity to take the knowledge developed throughout his law degree and apply it to real-world legal work. 

Before beginning his internship, Curtis expected his daily tasks might involve filing documents or grabbing coffees.  

“To my surprise, I was given great supervised legal work right throughout the internship,” he reflected.  

“Tailoring these skills to real-world legal tasks helped to see the importance of the knowledge we gain through our studies,” he said. 

The experience also gave Curtis an insight into the aspects of legal work that cannot be taught in a classroom.  

“The biggest takeaway for me was the realisation that real-world principles, and real-world people were just as much a part of law as any other industry,” he said. 

“Not only did I get to put my legal knowledge to the test, but I also got to observe, and get experience with, the practical elements of legal work that, by nature, cannot be taught or experienced in university.” 

Why it is worth it

For both Mackenzie and Curtis, their internships provided valuable hands-on experience, helping them explore the career opportunities beyond their degree. 

“I think an internship is crucial to your degree, and the earlier you can complete one, the better,” Mackenzie said. 

“The growth you get from real-world experience is something a classroom alone can't give you. Ask questions, show up wanting to learn, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.” 

Curtis encourages students to make the most of every opportunity. 

“My advice would be to jump at any chance to participate in the workplace. Show up, be yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and absorb as much of the experience as you can.” 

Whether you're looking to build confidence, expand your professional network or discover what career path suits you best, an internship is an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom. 

Learn more about UOW's current internship availabilities.