In our college days, we may have come across many students who are regarded as an all-rounder. Now days in corporate world employers and organisations instead of looking for all-rounder are focussing on building well-rounded classes or organizations of specialists. One way to stand out your job applications and also to develop your skills and interest in a particular field is through internships.
Internships are beneficial for college students as they provide hands-on experience that will be valuable in finding jobs after graduation. In foreign countries students after their high school tend to go into internships to find out their interests and based on their interests opt for a course in college. If you are planning to find an internship now is the time to begin.
Here are a few methods on how to find the internship that suits you:
Follow what interests you
The objective of the internships should be to find out the areas of your interests and also see if you can really pursue a career in the future. This helps you develop and hone your skills in a particular field. If you’re interested in graphic design, see if local firms are looking for a design or administrative interns. If you like biology and medicine, find a local lab that has an opportunity for a research internship. Even if the position isn’t exactly what you imagined, you can still learn about the industry, how the profession works, gain insight into the skills and tools necessary to succeed and begin building your network with professionals in this field.
Build contacts and reach out people
Try to find out local companies and organizations at which you would like to intern, find people, and build contacts. Try to find out opportunities that they may have and also to find out more about a particular position. Just like in the college search process, it’s helpful to do your research and talk to as many people as possible in order to learn more about a specific field, company, or internship opportunity.
Be sure to link to your relevant online profiles.
When it comes time to apply for an internship, be sure to provide links to other resources like your personal website, blog, online portfolio. You can include these in your resume or in the signature of an email. This way, employers can learn more about you, see some of your work, and gain insight into other accomplishments and interests that you may not have been able to include in your standard resume.
Bring your A-game to the interview
Finally got selected for an internship and now being called for an interview? Remember to bring all the documents that they requested whether it is an extra copy of our resume or the list of references. Dress appropriately and bring in your own questions to ask during an interview. This is an opportunity to know the organizations as much as you can and also it is a chance for them to get to know you.
Don’t take rejection personally
Waiting for the company’s decision can be daunting and it stings if you get No as an answer. Do not take rejection personally and instead try to find out why they decided to go into a different direction and hence try to use this as feedback in your next search.
Standing out from the pool of applicants is the key to getting selected for an internship. The applicant pool is highly competitive, so it is important to take grab opportunities such as internships that help develop your interest. By following the steps mentioned above you will definitely be able to find the internship that suits your taste and need.