So you’re one of the few, huh? You’ve decided to get an internship over the summer instead of slothing around all day. Congratulations, you are a rare breed. If you happened to be living under a rock for the past ten years, somehow, and aren’t familiar with the concept of internships, fear not.
Internships are temporary positions where you can experience and learn the basics of working in a field or position. It allows you to explore different career fields to find what is right for you as well as boost your CV by giving you the experience you need. So how do you go about getting an internship?
Step 1: Decide your field
Remember all those questions your murobbis would ask you? “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, this part Is like that. Except it is supposed to be a bit more grown up, but hey, if you still want to take care of your Barbie as a full time job we aren’t judging. So before getting any further, decide which fields you plan to work in.
If you’re still in high school, you are in luck because your options are wide open. As a university student, however, you will probably have an idea where you want to work at this point. So get a notepad, and write those down. You don't have to limit yourself to only one field, but keep the list modest at the very least.
It would be prudent to narrow down your field according to your university major (if any), interests and passion. Identify what you're good at, streamline those skills with industries which may find your interests valuable, and you should have a few scribbles at hand.
If you’re still in high school, you are in luck because your options are wide open
Step 2: Set your conditions
So internships come in different forms from various kinds of employers. At this step, you should be evaluating what kind of internship you are looking for. Questions you should be asking yourself include, but aren’t limited to:
What kind of organisation? Profit or non-profit?
What kind of culture? Formal or formal-casual?
A small startup or a large multinational?
Paid or unpaid?
Accordingly, additional expenses during that period? Area?
A summer internship or a something longer?
Step 3: Build a foundation
Now that you have decided what kind of internship you want to aim towards, you will have to start preparing yourself for applying to one. Keep your eyes peeled for any internship openings on social media and newspapers. While you are doing that, also create a draft CV and a cover letter. You shouldn’t be sending the same CV to every employer, but having a draft will make things easier once you know where to apply.
It also helps to practice interviewing skills. Schedule a mock-interview session with a peer or a counselor so you know what to expect.
Step 4: Find your dream internship
Your easiest way to find internships to work in is to reach out to your family, friends and teachers. Having a connection to the organisation you are applying to will make things unimaginably simpler, and truthfully, more direct.
List the companies which match the conditions set in “Step 2” and try contacting them, even if they haven’t listed internship openings. Bangladesh does not yet have a fully formed tradition for internships as of yet, so you’ll have to reach out to the companies most of the time.
Step 5: Applying
Once you find a few internships that look appealing, go ahead and update your resume and cover letter for each of those companies. You want to make it as personal as possible, and illustrate ample confidence in yourself.
Research is important here. You want to know all the basics: The field they operate in, their main competitors, etc. In your cover letter, mention who referred you to the organisation. Once you have applied, don’t forget to follow up with employers after a couple of weeks. Express your gratitude to all the employers offering you a position and explain that you would love to work with them in the future.
Good luck!
