An Internship is a professional learning practice that provides meaningful, practical work related to a student’s learning field or career interest.
The internship allows the student to explore career development and learn new skills. In addition, it will enable the employer to bring new ideas and energy to the work environment, develop talent, and build a pipeline for future full-time employees. Advanced internship:
- Contains a part-time or full-time application that includes no more than 25% of pastoral or administrative duties.
- Provides a clear description of the work/project work experience.
- Guide the student to the organization, its culture, and its proposed assignments.
- It helps the learner to develop and achieve learning goals.
- Provides general feedback to the trainee student.
An internship should provide you with practical skills, experience, and industry knowledge, instead of an employer who benefits from your work.
With a strong emphasis on training, internships provide students with a real-life experience of the workplace environment and the arena they hope to enter.
It helps them acquire necessary job skills and determines whether the job they are getting is right for them. It also enables them to interact with influential people in the workplace and is essential in getting a job and moving up first place in the area work ladder.
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The internship can be paid for or voluntarily. The practice is growing (and rightly so) towards the former, as voluntary internships are often exploitative.
As you might expect, well-paying internships are often the most competitive.
Here is how to put one together for use with your internship and stay focused on your career, not just your first job;
Article Road Map
Expand Your Information
Try to learn a range of things during your internship. First, please educate yourself about the industry and the variety of job opportunities.
For example, if you are studying with a marketing department, look for staff in the editorial team or the planning department. Notice how their work differs from yours.
Plan to understand the whole company. The organization, the company culture, the star crew, and their description of a good employee.
Keep your future in mind: Would you like to work for a company like the one you are studying at, or would you prefer different management or organizational structure? During the interview, you will receive questions about how you like to work and which areas are most suitable. The information gained during your training informs you of your response.
Build Confidence in Work Habits
If you have not been in school and working part-time in shops, an internship may be your first exposure to office culture. It’s different.
The more you are exposed to how the offices work, from the pre-meeting briefing to knowing who will copy in the emails (and when), you will feel comfortable once your training wheels are off.
Remember, too, that knowing the industry’s jargon is very helpful when it comes to writing job codes, writing practical cover letters, and sounding like an experienced professional during an interview. So keep track of office tools and names that appear during meetings.
Develop Your Skills and Write What You Do
You could write your first newsletter or computer program during your internship, create a schedule, or do a project.
But some internship programs save trainees a tedious job. Be assured that no matter what your job or career may be, you have different skills and abilities that you could acquire.
Even simple tasks like accessing staff to get information to be emailed daily can still look powerful in your resume. To do that, keep track of everything you learn and do during your internship. It may help to keep a journal. Or, save a digital note or draft email that includes a date every time you do a new task.
Ask for Answers
You will probably find “newborns” in your article as a student. That can be frustrating and sometimes lead to exciting projects, but it also means you are expected to know everything. So make full use of your expectations by asking a lot of questions.
Also, seek feedback from management and colleagues. Find out what you can do better. Although it is challenging to feel criticism, this information will help you improve. It is better to get now than full-time work, where poor performance may mean you have been sent for packing.
Give All Yours
Amazing internships offer challenging, exciting work. But, it might not always be the situation. So here are a few things to keep in mind if you are struggling to stay engaged:
- Request More; Volunteer with extra work and projects once you have completed your assigned tasks. Or, better yet, make a list of worthwhile projects or activities and ask your manager if it is okay to go ahead with them.
- Be willing to meet with your supervisor early, if possible, to try to get a sense of expectation. Their job is to confirm if you have the correct information. If you know you would like to meet certain people or achieve some worthwhile goals to start over, tell your supervisor. Be aware of their schedule as many office workers are overworked.
- Don’t Look Lonely; Depending on your responsibilities, this may be a challenge. Irrespective of how difficult the job might seem, do not allow that to happen to you. Avoid looking at your phone during meetings or forums at your desk (unless that is part of your job responsibilities)
Create Links and Find A Consultant
If you are part of a training team, you can build relationships that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on the opportunities to be with your peers at the correct times.
Extend your social circle through apprenticeships, too. Ask coworkers to have coffee or sit with them during lunch. Get in on the company-wide contact events and get together. (Warning: If you drink alcohol, eat less even if you are older. Also, being intoxicated when you are at work does not look good.)
Lastly, look for career advisors who can give you advice, write recommendations, and help you make meaningful connections.
If you have a colleague who knows his way, ask how he got to where they are and what advice he can give you. These conversations are the beginning of a mentor-type relationship, which can be a powerful force in your entire career.
Keynotes
Not all internships will lead to immediate job redress. However, if the company and the work you have done are of interest to you, it is a good practice to communicate so that you are at the top of your mind when the opportunity arises.
As your internship ends, send personalized notes or emails to coworkers. Mention the projects you have worked on together, express your gratitude for any guidance they provide and provide your contact details.
It is imperative to communicate. It can be very helpful in getting professional jobs in the future.