How to Get an Internship With No Experience in South Africa

You Don’t Need Prior Work Experience to Get an Internship

This is one of the most common worries among first-time applicants, and it’s largely unfounded: internships exist specifically because entry-level candidates need a first opportunity to build experience. Almost every internship applicant is in the same position when they apply for their first one. What actually determines whether you get shortlisted isn’t whether you’ve had a formal job before — it’s whether you can show genuine effort, relevant interest, and some evidence of how you work, even without paid employment history.

What Actually Counts as “Experience”

Employers reviewing entry-level and internship applications know most candidates won’t have formal job history. What they’re really looking for is evidence you can apply yourself and follow through, which can come from a wider range of sources than people often assume:

• Academic projects with real deliverables — group assignments, a final-year project, a thesis, a portfolio piece
• Volunteering, even informal or short-term, especially if it involved responsibility or teamwork
• Part-time or casual work of any kind — retail, tutoring, freelance work, family business support
• Student societies or leadership roles — treasurer of a club, organising an event, representing your class
• Self-directed learning — online courses completed, certifications, personal projects relevant to your field
• Sport, community, or extracurricular commitments that show consistency and responsibility over time

None of these need to be paid or formal to be worth including. What matters is describing them clearly and specifically — what you did, what the outcome was, and what you learned — rather than leaving them off your CV because they don’t feel like “real” experience.

Build a CV That Works Without a Job History

Structure your CV around what you do have rather than trying to disguise what you don’t. Lead with education, relevant coursework, and projects, then list any part-time work, volunteering, or extracurricular involvement with the same level of detail you’d give a formal job. Keep descriptions specific and outcome-focused rather than vague. Use our free CV builder to put together a clean, well-formatted CV that presents this well.

For a full walkthrough of the entire application process, including documents and cover letters, see our guide on how to apply for an internship.

Target the Right Internships First

Some internships are genuinely more accessible to first-time applicants than others. It’s worth focusing early applications on:

• The YES Programme — specifically built for youth without prior formal work experience, spanning a wide range of education levels. See our full guide to the YES Programme.
• Government internships through the Public Service Internship Programme, which are structured, stipended, and don’t expect prior formal employment. See our guide to government internships.
• NGO and social development internships, where a genuine interest in the cause and relevant volunteering can carry significant weight — see our guide to NGO and social development internships.
• Vacation work as a current student, which is specifically designed for those without prior experience — see our guide to internships for students.

These aren’t the only options, but they’re a strong starting point if you’re finding that more competitive corporate internships expect experience you don’t yet have.

Use Your Network, Even a Small One

You don’t need extensive professional connections to benefit from networking. Lecturers, family friends, former teachers, and people you know through community or religious organisations can all be worth a direct, polite message asking if they know of any internship opportunities or would be willing to have a short conversation about their field. Most people are more willing to help than first-time applicants expect, particularly with a specific, low-pressure ask.

Don’t Underestimate a Strong Cover Letter

Where your CV can’t carry the weight of a long work history, a well-written cover letter can do real work — explaining specifically why you’re drawn to this field, what you’ve done to pursue it so far (even informally), and what you hope to contribute. This is often where candidates with limited formal experience differentiate themselves most effectively.

Consider a Learnership as an Alternative Route

If you’re consistently finding that internships in your target field ask for a qualification or experience level you don’t have yet, it may be worth considering a learnership instead. A learnership combines structured learning with paid work experience, and specifically doesn’t require prior experience or, in most cases, an existing post-school qualification.

Keep Perspective

Almost everyone applying for their first internship is in exactly the position you’re in now. The goal isn’t to manufacture experience you don’t have — it’s to present what you do have clearly, apply broadly, and treat the first internship as the foundation the rest of your career will build on.

Browse current opportunities on our internships listings page, including several programmes specifically open to first-time applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will employers reject me for having no work experience at all?

Reputable internship programmes generally don’t, since they’re specifically designed as an entry point for candidates without prior formal experience. What matters more is how clearly you present your background and your genuine interest in the role.

Should I include unpaid volunteering on my CV?

Yes, always. Unpaid volunteering, informal work, and academic projects are all legitimate and worth including in detail — treat them with the same specificity you would a paid job.

What if I’ve applied to several internships and heard nothing back?

This is common and not necessarily a reflection of your application quality — competition for popular internships is high. Keep applying broadly, consider programmes specifically built for first-time applicants like the YES Programme or government internships, and review your CV and cover letter for clarity if you’re consistently not hearing back.