INTERNSHIPS
Internships are perfect for self-starters
For those starting off along their careers, or at a crossroads and looking to transition into a new role, there are many different types of internships out there that can provide a great way to not only get the experience you need, but that will also allow you to get a foot in the door and give your C.V the boost it needs ahead of your next interview
Internships are quite exclusive in that they are normally only available to students or graduates, and depending on the type of internship in question, will require you to have completed specific courses before you are eligible to apply for them
Internships hold many benefits for both interns and employers alike.
For employers, they provide a great way to fill short term staffing vacancies and bolster manpower at crucial times. More than this though, it gives them a great way to source new hires, providing both a reliable and inexpensive means of bringing new and promising talent into the organisation. This recruitment method holds a huge advantage in that it allows new hires to experience the workplace and prove themselves capable of performing the duties required before any formal job offers are extended. While this is good news for employers, it’s also great news for interns too. Hiring for permanent positions following successful internship placements is a common practice, and it’s estimated that as many as 30% of successfully completed internships go on to become permanent positions…
International Students
Internships are highly diverse both when it comes to the types of internship programs available and in how they are compromised, and the great news is they are also available for international students too…
They can last anywhere from a month to a year, (with some placements requiring as little as 10-15 work hours, over as little as 2 or 3 days a week). They can be done either at the end of your studies or during them, (with many undergraduate programs offering internship placements during the mid-semester summer break when students have time off from their studies).
Many internships will be very hands on, focusing predominantly on the work-related aspect that the role entails, requiring you to work hard and perform the same duties as the rest of the professionals within the workplace.
However, other internship placements will more be orientated towards training, looking at you with a view to developing your potential as a future prospect, and as such, these types of internships may be focused more on one-to-one mentoring with someone in the organisation directly responsible for your training that you will normally shadow on a daily basis. It simply depends on the needs of the organisation in question and what they aim to achieve with their internship program…
The types of internships you can find offer everything from office-based work, to technically based engineering and programming based work, to field work, to many other types of things in between. All in all, they are regarded as a great way to get the hands-on experience you need where looking to enter into higher level paid entry level roles upon graduation
The advantages to completing a successful internship program are manifold
In the first instance, where taken inbetween terms, they can provide additional motivation and perspective on the things you are ultimately looking to achieve. On top of this, they can also be really useful when it comes to academic life too, because often times, you will encounter course related questions pertaining to post internship experiences upon resumption of your studies…
Internships are a great way to hone your skills and get the practical experience you need, giving you a fresh perspective and further the understanding of the field you are studying to enter. On top of which – the work-related experience they provide on your C.V, especially if applying with the same company, normally gives you a massive advantage in an interview, especially when competing against other graduates who aren’t as fortunate to have the same internship experience on their resume as you
Aside from giving you first-hand experience in your chosen profession, internships have even more benefits to offer too. While you will normally need to convince an employer of you the strong desire you have to work in that profession in order to be offered the opportunity at an internship in the first place, they are nevertheless still a great way to see if that particular vocation is the right fit for you, and if not, they can provide the perfect opportunity to change what you are studying or majoring in before you commit to going down that path fully
It’s also been found that interns have significantly higher employment success rates over non intern graduates. Where interviewing with the same company they have interned with, surveys have found they have around a 40% success rate at landing the role, and these same surveys also found that graduates with internships under their belts are over 18% more likely to find a job within the same industry within the first 6 months after they have graduated than non-interns are
Moreover, gaining access to an actual workplace environment provides another superb benefit in that it gives you the opportunity to network with seasoned professionals from that given field. These are people who have made inroads in the same industry you are looking to call your own, and as such, it can be really helpful when it comes to providing things like essential references on your C.V, giving you the inside scoop on up and coming opportunities inside the organisation, putting in a good word in for with the hiring manager, and so much more…
Networking is regarded by recruiters as a key part of the job seeking process.
In many respects, while studying toward the qualification you want to achieve, it is the perfect time to build contacts and make inroads in the field you want to make your own
It is estimated that around 60% of all jobs are attained either directly, or indirectly, as a result of effective networking
Networking can take many different forms, but in its most basic one, it is simply the art of building contacts and relationships with people or organizations for the purposes of maximizing potential opportunities in your field of interest. With an internship, it gives you the perfect time to talk to people and ask questions, impressing them with your enthusiasm and building meaningful relationships with them in process. By taking the time and effort to talk to people during your internship and getting to know them, it can open up a wealth of untapped opportunity. For more information on networking, see our networking section in the application area
The last piece of great news for interns is that many internship roles are paid, which means you will get to money while at the same gaining valuable work experience as you build a great foundation from which to start your new career
If you are willing to put in the hard work and commitment, if you are willing to take the initiative when it comes to your duties, and if you are willing to make the most of the expertise of those around you, you will go far in any internship. Aside from being a great way to gain valuable experience in the industry you have a passion for, and the superb networking opportunities they provide, internships are a great first step down the path of a long and successful career – and such experience is one of the first things an interviewer will always look for on any graduates C.V or resume
In an internship, you can expect to perform a variety of different tasks, these will vary on the company and role in question, but will usually revolve around assisting others in the workplace in a support capacity until you learn the ropes, at which point, you will usually be entrusted with a greater degree of responsibility
The beneficial thing is that internships have an emphasis on training with gives you the chance to learn and develop your skills without all the pressures that come with the actual role itself. Typical duties may include things like answering the phone, data entry, arranging appointments, filing paperwork, and performing other dedicated duties associated with the given place of work in question. On top of this, some internships will also give you the opportunity to spend time abroad, or work between different offices and locations
Internships are highly coveted positions, as such, just like an actual job, there can be intense competition for them, and that’s also why, just like a job, there are certain things it’s beneficial for you to do to help prepare yourself for them which we will examine further down below
While the entry requirements will differ depending on the company in question, the overwhelming majority of internships will specify that you be either be studying towards, or have recently completed, a graduate or undergraduate degree, or in some cases another other form of qualification, will normally require you to have a minimum specified GPA, and in some instances may also require you to have other types of qualifications or experience
To this end, volunteering can be a great way to help you get the added experience you need before applying. Much like a regular job, it’s not only seen as a strong sign of your character, but of the commitment you have to the vocation in question, and on top of this, it also gives you a great way to get the experience the employer is looking for, all the while expanding your horizons and networking connections at the same time
Part time jobs that are in a similarly related field as the one you want to work in are also an ideal way to make yourself more eligible for an internship
The whole purpose of an internship is to give you experience of an actual role in the undergraduate or graduate field you are studying in, and while you might not always get this in a part time job, it will nevertheless still afford you the opportunity to get in some valuable work experience under your belt, giving you the chance in turn when you go for your interview to highlight transferable skills such as meeting tight deadlines and dealing with members of the public, on top of which, it will also enable you to earn some valuable money at the same time too
As part of applying for any internship, often times you will have to do things like send reference letters, copies of transcripts, C. Vs and cover letters etc. It’s for this reason that taking proactive steps to join community groups, student bodies, or aluminium associations, can be another valuable thing that will help when it comes to landing the internship you most desire. Not only is it a great way to help with obtaining things like reference letters, but when applying for an internship having these are the kinds of things on your C.V things that will look really great, especially if you’re short on actual work experience
How to find the internship that’s right for you
A good internship should not only provide a clear outline of the duties involved, but should also enable you to fit any personal and study related commitments around it comfortably. Another thing a good internship should provide you with is regular feedback that you can learn and develop from, and as such, this is always a point you should raise at your internship interview, either during the conversation with your interviewer, or at the very end when you have a chance to ask questions
Finding a good internship is a great first step to take along the path to a long and successful career. There are multitudes of different ones out there, some better than others, that’s why next we’ve outlined some suggestions to help take your internship search to the next level
To begin with – Start by preparing a list of internship openings you feel may be worthwhile pursuing
Do this by starting your search off in the right place – The student advice centre, alumni association, job fairs, are all great places to start. If there’s a company you already have in mind, visit their website and see if they have any internship openings available
Send out speculative enquiries – If you’re struggling to find the opportunity you want, there’s nothing wrong with sending out speculative enquiries to increase your chances of landing a great internship. If you decide to do this, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time (at least a full semester) to send your enquiries out and arrange a suitable start date with them
Check with friends or family – It’s always worthwhile checking with friends or family when looking for things like jobs or internships. While more often than not they won’t know of any directly, by asking around on your behalf, it will increase the number of eyes and ears on the lookout for a great internship for you
Make an early start – It’s really important you give yourself enough time to find a suitable internship. Starting your search off at least one full semester beforehand should hopefully give you enough time to find an internship that’s right for you
Make sure you understand what the role entails – This starts with researching the company and the internship beforehand, and continues by expressing interest and employing effective questioning in the interview itself. It is important you understand what the specifics of the internship entails, because in doing so it will enable you not only to impress the interviewer with your knowledge, but will also ensure you understand the commitment involved so you can determine whether or not the role is right for you
Persistence Pays – There can be any number of reasons why you don’t hear back once you’ve sent an enquiry or application to an employer. That’s why, once you’ve applied, if you don’t hear anything back, make sure you follow up. The great thing about this step is that it is not time intensive, a few short lines explaining that you’ve recently sent in an application, that you’re really enthusiastic about the prospect of discussing any internship openings they have, and one last line thanking them for their time and consideration, is all that it takes. 5 – 10 working days is a reasonable amount of time to wait before sending a follow up to an employer
Write out a list of objectives – This can be things you’re looking to get out of the internship, such as skills, training, on the job experience, a better understanding and appreciation of the role itself, connecting with professionals in the industry you want to be in, etc. It can also be things you are aiming to bring into the workplace with you, such as enthusiasm, commitment, reliability, or any of the other skills and qualities that matter to you most as an aspiring professional. Following this step will not only help you be at your most effective when your internship starts, but will also help you verbalise yourself much better in your interviews too
Prepare for your interview – Just like any job, the interview is the biggest obstacle standing in the way between you and the internship that will set you on the path down a long and successful career. Interview Professional offers everything you need to prepare and be successful in your upcoming interview, and is proud to be regarded as one of the foremost premier services for guided Interview preparation throughout the entire industry
Lastly, remember that also like any job, it can take time to find the internship that’s right you…
We will be amending our site soon to include a list of internships
How to thrive in a good internship
You’ve done the hard work, sent out applications, been invited for the interviews, put in the time and effort necessary to prepare, and have finally been rewarded for all your hard work with an acceptance into the dream internship you’ve been looking for. Now that you’ve landed it, what’s next? When we consider internships, finding one and landing it is only part of the challenge, we also need to consider how best to be successful in the actual internship itself
Internships present a unique opportunity in that they give us the chance to learn and develop in a professional and nurturing atmosphere while working towards our graduate or undergraduate studies. Let’s take a look now at the sorts things we can do to be successful in our next internship…
Socialize
Teambonding doesn’t stop in the workplace. The best way to get on a good footing in a new workplace environment is to adapt to your new social climate well. Take any opportunity that comes along to get to know colleagues at team meetings, after hours social functions, or even work social media platforms.
Be enthusiastic
Do your best to seem enthusiastic and interested in your duties at all times
Expressing this through a positive and upbeat demeanour, expressing this by asking questions, or expressing this in any other way you can think of will take you far.
Genuine enthusiasm, expressed at the appropriate times, comes across very well not only with the people you work with, but also with the higher-ups who will surely be receiving regular updates on your progress too. By asking questions it means you’ll get to know the company better from the inside out, and that will help you if you end up interviewing for a permanent position with them. Approaching your tasks with enthusiasm means you’ll not only tend to impress your workmates more, but will enjoy your time more in your internship too
Get Involved
An internship is a great opportunity for you not only to learn new skills, but to experience what the role will be like first hand. For that reason, do your best to impress the employer by stepping up to be the first one to put your name forward if any additional tasks or assignments come up
Ask for feedback
It’s important you get feedback regularly not only so you can grow in your role, but so that you know the areas you can improve on too. Asking for feedback indicates to your employer that you are not only proactive when it comes to your own development, but that you are serious enough about your career to act on it too
Give feedback
Feedback is a two-way street. If you see something you feel can be improved upon, better yet, if you like something the way it is, don’t be shy about giving feedback either. This is an excellent way to get more involved in your workplace, and it’s sure to get you noticed by your superiors in a good way.
Just make sure that if it is something you think the employer can improve on, that you are both tactful and constructive with the feedback you provide
Work hard
Treat an internship like you would any other job. Employers love interns who are punctual, enthusiastic, adaptable, and dependable. You are being given an opportunity to learn and develop new skills, that’s why making the most of it through hard work is the best thing you can do as you look to take your first tentative steps forward in your career
Keep a journal
A journal can be a great way to record the things you learn and the people you meet during your time in an internship. This can be incredibly useful when we consider the fact that often times you will be required to write about your experiences as part of your studies once your internship has ended. It can also be a great tool to have to refer back to when preparing for an interview too as it can help you verbalise your past experiences much better
Enjoy yourself
Try to enjoy the experience as much as possible. An internship only lasts for a limited period of time, and is not only a great opportunity to show a prospective employer what you can do, but is also a great opportunity to learn and gain valuable insight into what life in your new role will be like too
What’s more, if you enjoy yourself during your time with them, it will not only make the whole experience better, but is sure to be something the organisation providing the internship will pick up on too
Send a thank you letter
When your internship ends, a great way to show the organisation how much you’ve enjoyed your time with them is by writing a thank you letter or email to expressing your gratitude. By taking the time to do this, it will ensure the organisation remembers you with affection and will help to reaffirm their belief that they made the right decision by taking you onboard in the first place – this will bolster your chances if you should ever come to interview with them again should a permanent role become available