How an Internship Can Accelerate Your Future Career? Tips and Tricks to Undergo Goal Oriented Internship - A Winning Step for Ensuring Brighter Future!
What is an Internship?
An internship is a form of work experience that allows students to develop their knowledge about their respective fields or majors. Of course, students will undertake practical work related to their field of study. When carrying out an internship, students will be given the opportunity to experience working in the real world of work and apply the knowledge they gain during their studies.
Benefits of Doing an Internship
Not only is it one of the conditions for graduating from college, but internships also have many benefits for students. Here are some of the benefits of doing an internship.
Get extra pocket money
Yes, we are highly aware that many companies implement unpaid internships, but not a few companies provide compensation for interns. Especially if you intern at a prominent company like Tokopedia, you can get paid millions of Rupiahs.
Get a full-time job position
When doing an internship, you may be given the opportunity to work full-time at the company. It doesn’t have to be full-time; you can work freelance or part-time, so you can study while working. Not a few students end up working in companies where they did their internships at. Because of that, don’t be half-hearted during your internship program, ok?
Find and build connections
You will meet people from various backgrounds, ages, and positions. This is an excellent opportunity for students to build connections. It doesn’t have to be with the people at the company. For example, suppose you are a Journalism student who has to do interviews. In that case, you may get access and connections with various people or companies outside your internship. You can make new friends or find job opportunities with these connections.
Learn things you don’t get in class
Whether it’s hard skills or soft skills, students will learn many new things that they might not learn in class. When you do an internship, you deal directly with people or experts in the industry! Students will definitely get valuable experience and knowledge.
One of the worries of students when they graduate is the world of work. By doing internships, students already have an idea and experience of what it’s like to work in the real world. This will help students to be more prepared when they enter the world of work.
Determine your future career
For students who are still unsure what career they want to pursue, the internship process will help them choose. During your internship, you can consider whether you like your industry. Is this really what you want?
Students may also get the opportunity to do new things, and experience working in a different position. Students can find a new passion or dream career. Therefore, always keep an open mind when doing an internship. You don’t know what opportunities you can get.
Improve CV
One of the crucial aspects that recruiters look at when looking at a CV is work experience. So, if you do an internship, students can include their work experience on their CVs. To improve your CV, make sure you are more proactive and work seriously so you can show off your contributions or even your achievements during your internship on your CV. The greater the work experience, the easier it will be for you to get a job at your dream company.
Increase self-confidence
Last but not least, you will face all kinds of situations and problems during your internship. You will be challenged to be able to deal with annoying bosses, demanding jobs, or organizational problems. The internship experiences will hone your hard skills and soft skills. Not only does it make you more competent and more experienced, but it also improves your personality and makes you more mature and confident.
Summer Internship Benefits
Summer internships provide extremely valuable experience in your chosen field. If you’re too busy to commit as an intern during the College year, the summer could be a great option for you. While other students are focusing on play during summer break, you can get a foot in the door at one of your favorite companies by interning and learning everything you can. So consider a summer internship and get ahead of the curve
Typically, employers start looking as early as January and begin to fill up internship positions by March for that summer.
Companies offer some of their best internships during the summer and some companies only offer summer internships. Why? For starters, interns produce some of their best work when they’re 100% focused.
During the college year, interns often juggle college work and activities and can only work at their internship a few hours each week, whereas summer interns can fully immerse themselves in work.
Employers can also attract talent from all locations for internships over the summer months.
What can you expect as a summer intern and beyond?You’ll learn about a company and its culture, the industry, and various job roles. You’ll also develop new skills and make new connections that very well might provide professional references for you some day. You’ll go through training, get feedback on your performance, and get career advice.
During your summer internship, be sure to take the opportunity to build your communication skills and get familiar with common office software packages including Microsoft Word and Excel.
How internships work for betterment?
Internships differ from traditional occupations largely based on pay, duration and the type of work. Interns’ duties can vary depending on the program, but most of the work is typically entry level and hands-on. For example, interns might perform data entry, do research, create presentations and participate in company meetings.
Through an internship, an employer offers work experience to interns. But internships have benefits for employers, too. While the interns gain career insight and experience, employers gain a temporary worker who can bring a fresh perspective to the company. Employers may also use an internship program as a way to recruit new talent.
Pay- Are internships paid?
An internship can be paid or unpaid, and some programs may offer academic credit upon completion of the term. Unpaid internships can classify the participant as a “trainee,” while interns categorized as “employees” must be paid at least minimum wage.
Types of internships
There are different types of internships that vary by responsibilities, duration, industry and employer.
- Summer internship: As its name suggests, a summer internship takes place between the spring and fall semesters, typically lasting two or three months. Being able to focus on the internship, without balancing a full school load, is one selling point of a summer arrangement.
- Semester internship: A semester internship is a program that runs during the academic calendar. Interns will typically have to work while balancing a school load for the duration of a semester. There are also internships—called one-year internships—that consist of two semesters. In this case, the first semester might be an unpaid introductory period, while the second semester might be paid and include more responsibilities and targeted experience for interns.
- Externship: An externship is a brief program that gives interns a short but targeted introduction to the day-to-day operations of a company. Externships typically last between one day and a few weeks. This is a good option for candidates who are interested in multiple fields and want to narrow down their choices based on real-world experience by participating in multiple externships.
- College internship: This type of internship takes place directly at a college or university. Typically, students pursuing careers in the health care, research and science fields participate in these programs. A college internship may also be reserved for students within the school who are pursuing master’s or doctorate degrees.
- Returnship: A returnship is a less common program for experienced professionals looking to gain a path back into the workforce. These individuals may have a gap in their resume and need to brush up on their skills before applying for a permanent position. Returnships could also be an option for professionals who want experience before transitioning between careers.
The further classification of internship can be
What are the Steps to secure an internship?
Think of applying for internships as you would a full-time job—it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It can take a few tries to get a position, but doing some preliminary work could increase your chances. Try using these steps to land the internship you’ve had your eye on.
1. Narrow down your options
When looking for an internship program, consider your previous experience, the college courses you’ve enjoyed most and the skills you would like to gain. Then you can search for companies that align with your experience. Taking a targeted approach—rather than applying for a large number of programs that may not be a good fit—can help you land the right internship for your career.
2. Look in the right places
There are many different places you can look to find an internship program. An online job board can provide a wide variety of positions that you can narrow down based on location, job type, company rating and date posted. If you have a specific company in mind, check out their career page to see if there are any internships available. If not, you can try contacting them directly to learn about future opportunities.
3. Write a resume and cover letter
Once you’ve found several internship programs you’re interested in, it’s time to update or write your resume and cover letter. You may not have professional experience yet, so it helps to include any volunteer initiatives or extracurricular activities you’ve participated in. You should also note any skills you have outside of your work experience, like technical knowledge, coding skills or fluency in other languages.
Think of your cover letter as an elevator pitch—it’s a quick summary detailing why you would be a good fit for the position.
4. Ask for letters of recommendation
Certain internship programs require one or more letters of recommendation in addition to the resume and cover letter. Try to choose people who can speak to your skills and work ethic.
Reach out to these contacts personally, if possible, then send a follow-up formal letter request.
5. Research the company
In Step 1, you narrowed your options. But if you get a call back for a position you applied for, it helps to go a step further. Research the company by reading through their website, learning more about their work and visiting their social media pages to keep up with current events.
6. Plan for interview day
Before the day of the interview, consider setting your alarm early and mapping out the route so you’ll be on time. You can also get a good night’s rest and eat a healthy meal before the interview.
As you’re getting dressed, try to pick out the right interview outfit based on the company’s dress code. A general guideline is to dress one level above the typical attire worn at the job.
7. Follow up with the interviewer
Once the interview is complete, it’s important to send a follow-up note to the interviewer. A thank-you note can set you apart from other candidates and show that you are taking the role seriously. Remember to address everyone you spoke to and send the letter within one business day of the interview
Addressing the issue of practical exposure, internship is woven in the curriculum of study, which has adequate weightage in the evaluation system too. Therefore, it is suggested to students to undergo internships during summer as there is ample time available for transition from one semester to another. Summer internships are usually part of an engineering course curriculum. Summer internship provides a platform for students to gain experience, besides practicing their learning skills beyond textbooks and lectures. During internships, engineering students gain knowledge from this practical training approach. Students who neglect summer internship are usually lack of expertise & skills required as a promising engineer that are required in the overall growth as a matured professional engineer.
What does an intern do?
So what does an intern do exactly? That depends on the industry in question and the kind of internship you’ve signed up for. Research internships come with a different set of roles and responsibilities than, say, an internship in accounting.
An intern is primarily a support role – at least in the beginning. When you join up, your main job will be to assist, learn, and grow. After you’ve settled in, you’ll be expected to pull your own weight.
Here’s a general overview of the work you can expect to do as an intern:
1. Assist and contribute to the team!
As an intern, don’t expect to spearhead a critical project right off the bat…at least not yet. In the beginning of your internship, you may your time simply trying to learn how the company works. You may shadow an employee to get an understanding of their role. After a day or a few days of learning the ins-and-outs of the company. You’ll start to assist and contribute more to the team.
Here are some day-to-day intern roles and their responsibilities:
- Performing clerical duties: Creating PowerPoint presentations, drafting reports, designing creatives, researching trends and the like.
- Managing social media and emails: You may be asked to handle the company’s social media accounts, write emails to customers, talk to clients on the phone, and similar duties. Your day may include designing social media posts, scheduling them and creating a general strategy for your posts.
- Event handling: Interns are often asked to oversee the scheduling of important events. You may asked to help get everything prepared for an important. From securing the location to assisting the creation of a theme to sourcing your key speakers.
- Research: Interns fresh from a university education have a great deal of up-to-date knowledge. Your organisation may put this knowledge to good use by placing you in a research role. You may be asked to look into a new project and give your recommendations on how best to execute it.
2. Learn and gain experience
You’ll be expected to learn as much as you possibly can while you work, regardless of the kind of internship you’ve signed up for. It can be broken down into two main areas:
- Picking up hard skills: Hard skills are the technical skills you need to carry out your intern responsibilities, and eventually job duties, successfully. Examples include learning some technical skills to management skills to understanding data analytics.
- Brushing up on your soft skills: Soft skills are as important as hard skills. Soft skills are all about your ability to relate to people and building mutually-beneficial relationships. Examples are emotional intelligence, motivation, people-skills, listening, and excellent communication. You need soft skills to manage clients, not to mention get along with your bosses and colleagues. Soft skills are key to navigating your work environment and can even contribute to job progression.
3. Job shadow
Job shadowing has become the norm recently. As the name suggests, the practice involves “shadowing” someone as they perform their daily duties, observing their activities, and learning what the role entails via indirect experience. This is an especially popular practice in hands-on fields like engineering and healthcare.
How does this work exactly? When you join the organisation, you may be assigned a mentor. The first few weeks, you may be tasked with following them around. They’ll show you the ropes while they work. You may be asked to assist with light tasks here and there. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions. Job shadowing is an excellent way to get a deeper understanding of what it will be like to work in your industry on a day-to-day basis.
Once you’ve shadowed for a while, you may be asked to help your mentor on projects or eventually take over some of their tasks.
4. Take on an increasing amount of responsibility
As time goes by, expect to shoulder an increasing amount of responsibility. Initially, they’ll gauge your current skill set and reliability with your initial workload. As you prove yourself to your colleagues and bosses, you’ll be entrusted with more crucial tasks. The better you perform, the more the responsibilities you’ll be given.
This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your abilities to your employer. It can also help contribute to you receiving a full-time role afterwards. However, don’t feel like you need to shoulder more than you can handle. Employers prefer quality over quantity – don’t afraid to ask for help if you need it. Interns who can display that they can handle additional work and keep with tight deadlines will be more likely to impress the boss.
5. Network
While networking isn’t an official requirement as such, it might as well be. Networking involves building relationships with your bosses, colleagues, and customers and clients. You’ll need the backing and support of people in places to build a successful career. Also, building good relationships with customers is always good for the organisation.
Here are some examples of the kind of networking interns do:
- Finding a mentor: Mentors act as anchor roles for interns. If you find a good one, you can follow in their footsteps and build a successful career just like your mentor.
- Forming a peer support group: Interning is hard. Finding a peer support group who is going through all the ups and downs with you will make it much more enjoyable for everyone involved.
- Getting in with bosses and coworkers: Interns who can build strong individual bonds with their coworkers and bosses become a part of the “family”. You’re much more likely to be offered a full-time role at the company down the road.
6. Make a career call
Finally, usually at the tail-end of your internship, you have to make a career-defining decision: continue in the field you interned in or try your hand at something else entirely.
Government organization in support of providing Internships
NATIONAL CAREER SERVICE (NCS)
The Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGE&T), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), Government of India is implementing the National Career Services aims to provide a variety of employment related services. The Government is now giving increased focus on career counseling as a key activity of NCS to enable for our aspiring youth to pursue the right career choice according to their aptitude so that they join the workforce with better skills for enhancing growth and development. It has a vision to develop Career Centres as a real exchange platform for job seekers and providers. There is also a need to evolve a road map to make these centers tie up with educational institutions and potential industries. With this background, NCS has been conceptualized as a comprehensive, multi-pronged, transformational project. Key aspects of this project include:
- Establishment of Career Centres which would be enabled by making the right infrastructure and linkages available to perform counseling functions.
- Implementation of a comprehensive capacity building initiative for augmenting the skills of Career Centre professionals and other ecosystem counseling partners.
- Setting up a National Portal which will act as a platform to bridge the gap between Government and Private Job providing ecosystem, Job seeker and Skill development ecosystem.
- Providing access to tools to analyze skill-wise demand of industry and supply of Job seekers, as well as access to a rich knowledge repository of career counseling content in multiple languages so that candidates are counseled appropriately.
- Collaboration with various stakeholders like State Governments, Schools, Colleges, Job seekers, Skill Development Institutions, Employers, NGO’s, Volunteer Agencies, Technology partners, Verification agencies etc.
- Establishing institutional/governance structures and Revenue Model for securing sustainability and relevance of the services being offered through these centers.
- Appropriate Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategies to reach out to the stakeholders.
SERVICES OFFERED by NCS
Career Centres of NCS will be responsible for all activities related to the NCS project and will be linked to the NCS portal services for improved quality of services and outcomes. Activities to be performed by Career Centres can be categorized as follows:
- Coverage - Catchment Area
- Demand side – Industry Interaction
- Supply side – Candidate Engagement
- Job and Skill Mapping
- Information Education & Communication activities
- Last Mile Employability
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