WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
An internship is a temporary role that’s often solely for college students and recent graduates. Interns tend to work in a company in exchange for school credit or a base pay. These temporary role usually last for a few months to a year. They are particularly helpful for students who have yet settled on a career path as it offers them to work temporarily in a particular role or industry.
HOW TO GET AN INTERNSHIP?
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Write an internship resume and cover letter
When you apply, most firms will expect you to provide a CV and a cover letter. If you have no work experience and are looking for an internship, including a cover letter will make it appear more essential.
On your internship resume, remember to include the objective statement at the top of the professional career goals. Include any relevant experiences that you think might be helpful to the employer such as a list of completed coursework, volunteer work and any leadership roles you’ve held. Lastly, review the job description for any keywords that can be applied to your background and include them in your resume.
Your internship cover letter allows you to explain why you are applying for the position. It also provides you with an excellent opportunity to discuss how you might help the organisation. Write about any relevant experience relating to the role such as your work ethics and key skills.
Related link: How to Start an Internship Program
2. Ask for a letter of recommendation
A letter of recommendation is a statement from a relevant professional explaining why a candidate is a good match for the post. Many students would ask their lecturer or professor to write a recommendation letter for them. It’s a good idea to choose a person who knows you and your work well. You should also provide your recommender with the details of your internship, your resume and plenty of notice beforehand.
3. Make a list of companies
Make a list of prospective companies based on their core values, industry expertise and other factors that may intrigue you. Be sure to search for their website to confirm that they are currently hiring internships. If you can locate an internship position at a company you like, you have a better opportunity of building relationships and determining whether you like the industry. Depending on their performance, some organisations may even offer full-time roles.
4. Volunteer to intern
Don’t be disappointed if the company you’re interested in doesn’t have any internship opportunities.You can contact their human resources department to see if hiring an intern will be beneficial in the future. They may also offer you alternative options, such as part-time jobs, workshops, or other opportunities for progress in your career.
5. Prepare for your interview
When a company requests to have an interview with you, make sure to take time to prepare by reviewing the job description, developing answers to common interview questions and researching a little on the company. By doing this, you will get more knowledge on the company’s core value, mission statement and history which will help you communicate better during the interview.