Internship can be springboard to better career
AT THE end of her four-month internship with a top publishing company, Aarti was offered a part time job that allowed her to work from home so she could complete her graduation.
Sunil, a third year engineering student has interned in two different companies in the first two years of his course, and is looking forward to an interesting stint with a third one this coming summer. In both the companies he formerly interned, he had the opportunity to work on important projects. Sunil says, "I was expected to brainstorm, put forth suggestions and participate in the decision making process just like all the other employees. I got the opportunity to work on substantive and significant projects. Thanks to the interest the sponsoring companies demonstrated, I have much more to show for my internship than a photocopied report."
Priya who completed her masters in social work has had the good luck to be recruited in the campus interview by a multinational she had interned during the summer of the first year of the course. The HR head remembered the enthusiasm, energy and application she had demonstrated when she went there as a still green-behind-the-ears intern. "I have hired her purely for attitude. The skills she requires can be learnt on the job, but the seriousness with which she took her internship was what impressed us. When the opening came up, she was the first person that came to mind".
More and more students are converting their internships into springboards for their careers. The growing demand for skills and raw talent is fuelling the trend of converting interns into full time hires. "Given a choice, we would always like to go back to interns who have fared well in their internships, because they perform better than other fresh graduates who are just starting with our company", says Divya.J of a recruiting firm in Chennai.
Taking your internship with due seriousness is just one of the many strategies that can help you convert it into a full-fledged job. Planning and hard work combined with a forthright and proactive approach can also help you clinch that much needed edge over competition.
There are other things to make certain to turn an internship into a launch pad for a successful career. Start by asking for help and advice from professors and seniors in choosing the internship. Demonstrating your interest and enthusiasm at this stage will ensure you an opportunity to work for organisations that deliver on responsibility and provide interns valuable experience and genuine career breaks.
Internships provide both employers and interns with the opportunity to test waters and assess their compatibility. Use your internship as an opportunity to assess the company culture and values and see if you would enjoy working with the company on a permanent basis. It is important to demonstrate that you fit in with the office culture. Be punctual, be professional about your attire and demonstrate as much commitment to your job as regular employees. To stand out from the crowd, you have to be prepared to burn the candle at both ends and work really hard. The best way to impress your bosses is to display respect, dignity and professionalism however menial the job assigned to you may be.
Find yourself a mentor who can guide you and impart valuable knowledge and assistance. Ask questions, and evince interest in the company.
Speak to your boss and seek out additional responsibilities that can help you hone your skills. Network with co-workers and see if you can learn something new and useful. Be a team player. If there are other interns working along with you, team up with them and work in tandem and avoid rivalry of any sort.
You may lack the technical expertise and skills of regular employees, but demonstrating enthusiasm, dedication and team spirit will help you notch big scores with the employers.
In business the people you know are important. The more people you know, and the more they know you and your work, the greater are your chances of making a strong impression.
Use every opportunity to socialise with co-workers, make friends, and get to know them as well as you can.
Keep in touch with casual emails or calls, so that even if the internship does not immediately result in a job, they may remember and recommend your name when there is an opening in future.
An internship is a platform to showcase your skills, abilities and attitude in a manner that can never be accomplished in an interview.
You will get plenty of chance and time to create a smashing impression. So go ahead and exploit the potential your internship holds out for you.
BINDU SRIDHAR
faqs@cnkonline.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
