Tips for seeking an internship
SOME courses demand that you gain some practical experience and an internship is a good way to do it. If you know you will need one, check out these tips.
Write a list of what you need to pass
For example, is it a fixed number of hours? Do you need a supervisor? What paperwork do you need from school?
What’s the scope?
Must you work in a specific industry or do you have some leeway? Is there an approved list of places or perhaps a blacklist?
Identify your particular needs and fold them into your list of requirements.
You may want to focus on a language, geographical location, corporate culture or specific area of learning.
Shortlist organisations that have a history of taking interns
These will have internal processes in place, so they will be easier to work with than a company that needs to generate new systems, unless you’re dealing with a small family-owned firm where one person can decide.
Preparing your letter
Remember to list what you can do for the company and don’t just beg for help – be corporate about it. If you have good marks, tell the company about it.
If you have other experience that the company might like, mention that too. Treat it like a job application.
Call, write and call again
Call the company in question to ask who you should deal with. Send in your application. Wait two days and then call to make sure that the application has arrived and is being processed.
Be polite and organised, as these are qualities companies love. Always be pleasant because you may want to work there for real later on.
Start early
Good places have a waiting list and it’s better to be ahead of the curve. So, turn up early and have fun.