Looking for an Internship?

Internships are becoming more and more important. Many students and recent graduates would like to work as interns to start a career and to get firsthand experience, usually in a field they’re interested in, and because the graduate job market has become more competitive. Internships are becoming more and more important. Many students and recent graduates would like to work as interns to start a career and to get firsthand experience, usually in a field they’re interested in, and because the graduate job market has become more competitive. Internships are now almost always a necessity for any graduate; many employers admit they are unlikely to employ, or even interview, anyone who has never done an internship. Indeed, recent studies reveal that students have a 7 in 10 chance of finding a job with the company they interned with. Beginning the process of finding the right internship is not easy. First of all, think about the field you would like to explore or skills you would like to learn. Do you love cinematography? Do you want to learn how an advertisement company works? Do you want to know what a translator does? When the field is decided, it’s time to think about the other important aspect - payment. It is not a surprise that some internships don’t not involve pay. However, internships offer many benefits besides money. The most important one is the firsthand experience. An internship can show you what the working world is like, with its advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, you can learn new skills depending on the field you choose. It can be, office management, computer skills, public relations etc... In the end, this experience can help you to choose a university department or to further your career prospects, besides being a great opportunity to enhance your CV But how do you find an internship? Plan your internship search as you would a job search, specifying in the CV or in the front letter that you are interested in an internship rather than a permanent position. Furthermore, when doing the research online, remember to use the right keywords, such as “internship”, “post-graduate internship” or “internship in advertisement field”. If you already have a company in mind you can go straight to their website. Take a look at this site and try to gain as much information as you can about their internship program. If you cannot find any, send a speculative letter or e-mail your CV attached to a brief letter where you explain the reasons you would like to intern at that company. Better yet, give them a call asking for the person in charge of internships. E-mails can be easily ignored for a long time, but if you call you can get at the moment. Another way could be asking to people you already know. In this case, some networking will be needed. Perhaps your parents have a friend who works in an interesting field, or a friend of yours does. Finally, let’s talk about internships abroad. This kind of internship is especially recommended for students that would like to give a boost to their CV. In fact, if a normal internship is usually welcomed to employers, an internship abroad can increase your odds of being hired after the internship. Before choosing a country, think about what language would be more useful depending on the work field you would like to intern in. If, for example, you would like to work in the fashion industry you could choose to intern in France or Italy. On the other hand, if you would like to see how a business office works, you could look for an internship in London. However, you also have to consider what the lifestyle is like in the foreign city you would like to go to, and what the cost of living is. Overall, an internship is an enriching experience from the moment you begin the research to the moment you finish it. Not only will you improve your current skills and learn other ones, but you will also grow as a person into a more confident adult.