80% of jobs go to graduates who have had internships.

We strongly recommend that you take every opportunity to get vacation work experience. As well as giving you a context for your academic studies, work experience gives you an opportunity to learn and develop the key skills that employers regard as important. It will build your knowledge about a particular industry, job or organisation, and help you decide if you are suited to a particular kind of work. Use the opportunity to ask questions or advice from employees, and to network.

Used as part of your Personal Development Plan it will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on and record the skills you learn - providing valuable supporting evidence to use in job applications and interviews. Prospective employers are interested in the skills you've gained through work experience, so experience of different working environments may be useful.

This sort of opportunity may also lead to sponsorship of your final year, possible collaboration on your final year project and/or a job offer on graduation.

Remember that employment which may seem irrelevant to your career path is still a worthwhile learning experience. Whatever work you do will be useful in some way and will be developing your skills. For example, if you opt to work behind the union bar or your local supermarket you may be dealing with customers, communicating with colleagues and clients, working in a team, and learning.  If you can't find paid employment don't forget about voluntary work including mentoring and tutoring mentoring, try the Imperial College Volunteer Centre. These experiences will be highly valuable for developing your skills, and may also help you stand out from other candidates on job applications.

Useful article:  How to turn an internship into a permanent role  (guardian.co.uk)