How to Choose the right Internship

Internships are seen as potentially valuable tools to explore general career avenues. It’s like taking the first step of the career ladder. Such arrangements can provide valuable work experience and lessons. This will help to understand the know-how of a particular job. Taking the skills that one has learned and putting it into the workforce is a great way to explore different career paths and specializations that suit individual interests. A good internship is designed to give people starting out a taste of their chosen career. Whether it’s a paid or unpaid internship, the true value comes from what efforts you put into it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while choosing the right internship:

1. The hunt for the right one

Nowadays, there are plenty of websites which provides internships to students. Some of them are Internshala, LetsINTERN, HelloIntern, and the top social media platform such as LinkedIn. Many companies will use social media to announce job openings and information about upcoming internships. Don’t forget to connect with the hiring managers on LinkedIn, and always follow-up with a personalized email or phone call to reaffirm your gratitude in meeting them. College societies and advisors who specifically work in this field can help you guide in the right direction about upcoming internships for college students and inform you which internship will satisfy certain required credits for your degree.

2. Look up and research about the company

Before one goes for an internship interview, learn about the company-how they work, their dress code, what’s the mission, who are their clients, and the most important, what skills do they look for when hiring someone. The main platform through which you can find all this information is from LinkedIn or their Website. By becoming aware of these factors you can make the most out of your internship experiences and learn to adapt from the classroom setting into the working world.

3. Career relevance

The most important factor in choosing an internship is how it will influence you when the time comes to start applying for jobs. You want to be in an internship that will help you to gain valuable experience. Don’t accept an internship just for the sake of accepting it. Go through the job description in detail as so you will be aware and have the idea of the kind of roles and responsibilities you will be assigned. Even if it is not in your field of study, a major change in career would be a great option. It takes a little sacrifice but it will pay off in the future. Realize which skills you already possess and which would you like to earn during the internship and start working on it. It would be great to know where will this take you and how will it help for your professional life.

4. Work Environment

Having people around you that you connect to will lead to better work relationships and overall a happier workday. Optimistic, valuable work relationships will improve the quality of your work and increase target fulfillment. Just like with a job, the environment in your internship largely affects how your experience will be.

5. Opportunity to learn and skill building

While choosing an internship, always map your strengths and skills. Find an internship that helps you to clarify and decide your career ahead. One should preferably look for practical and hands on experiences that you will be helpful in the long run. Research the types of skills you will obtain during that internship. Plus, you’ll also gain insight of your strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to professional rather than academic situations.

6. Location

If going for an in-office internship, make sure to consider the location of the company. Find a company with a satisfactory location that’s just the right distance away from you. This would help you to save time and energy and most importantly keep getting you late at bay.

7. Ask Ask Ask!

Internship Interviews aren’t always to comprehend whether the supervisor is interested in you but you are interested and willing to learn as well. If you are meeting with superior, think of thoughtful questions you can ask to demonstrate you’ve prepared for the meeting. Make sure you ask one or more authentic questions in every meeting you attend like training and support, projects and assignments, and the performance criteria for feedback. Following this advice will hone your ability to ask questions that lead to real insight and will ingrain in you the essential habit of intellectual curiosity.

8. Compensation and Perks

Some internship pays their interns and some don’t. You might not want to consider this when making your choice because lessons learned will help you in the long run. Don’t let money be the guiding force in selecting your internship. Getting a letter of recommendation and certificate is a great deal for beginners. In some cases, focus your internship selection on companies that are looking to grow and expand and as well as possibly bring you in after graduation to advance their company to the next level.

Internships are a great way to dip your toes in the professional working world, so no matter if the experience is good or bad, internships will add value to your personal, academic and professional growth. When you’re still in college, you should try to do at least one internship. Choosing the right internship for you can bring forth a future working opportunity that leads to full-time commitment, and it will show you what it’s really like to work in your field. Good luck with your search for the best internship!