Young people today often complete several internships before starting their full-time careers. Although there are various perspectives on internships based on different academic traditions, the specific topic of motivation in internships from a sociocultural perspective is rarely examined. This study explores the internship experiences of 18 students and graduates in the UK, using the concept of motive from cultural-historical activity theory. It identifies two main motivational orientations among interns regarding their work in internships (i) an orientation towards exploring professional practice to gain insights into personal aspirations and preferences, often described as ‘tasters’ or ‘try before you buy’ experiences; (ii) an orientation towards learning to work as a novice professional and preparing or competing for full-time roles, commonly referred to as ‘a foot in the door’ in a chosen profession. The study discusses the implications of these findings for vocational learning literature such as the limitations of the apprenticeship model of learning when researching young people’s aspirations and internships. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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