How to apply successfully for an internship

An internship is a great way for a student to gain experience while studying but it can also help with financial aspects such as student loans because many internship positions pay a salary. The real advantage of doing an internship is the experience it provides to the student.

In all likelihood, a student will want to take up a role that is in keeping with his/her line of study. The experience gained from an internship will give them an edge over fellow students.

Competition for internship places has become very fierce because of the increasing number of students that want apply for internships.

Careers office at the university

There are essentially two ways to go about hunting for a place. All universities will have a careers office where students can search for places. This is a great way to find internships because it is absolutely free and is coordinated by the university where you are studying. However, sometimes, students may not find the appropriate place through the university and may want to look elsewhere.

Pay to have a place found on your behalf

There are increasing number of businesses catering to the needs of students who are in search of good internships. The job of these firms is locating students with businesses that have internship programs.

The fees can be up to as much as $10,000 to locate an internship which will also look after your accommodation and covers some other basic necessities like some meals.

The great thing about taking this option is that you will almost certainly attain work experience with some well-known companies. Yes, the fees are dear but they are for students that can afford it or have wealthy parents.

Make sure you start searching early or risk losing out to other students. Also, employers also favour people that do not leave it to the last minute, this gives them the impression that you are either lazy or just applying for the sake of it. Early application indicates enthusiasm.

The intern profile

The employers put a great deal of emphasis on the intern profile because they want to take those on they believe may be able to work for them in the long run. Although the purpose of an internship is to provide the necessary skills and experience to enhance the student's employability by making them more employable, some, but not all, firms take interns with the intention of grooming them for a long-term future with them.

Here are some traits they look for in an intern

• Communication skills – This is the most basic skill they would expect all interns to have. There is no point in taking an intern if they are not able to communicate with other employees and their superiors.

• Leadership – Having this is a huge asset. Interns are expected to demonstrate leadership because they are expected to demonstrate they are able to initiate management skills and are able to lead groups and manage other individuals, if necessary. This is especially important for people who go on internships from business and management related courses.

• Computing skills – Of course, today, most people, especially college and university students are expected to be very thorough in their knowledge and skills in computing. With so much of the world's work in all sorts of industries being increasingly computerized, it is expected that you will need to be fluent in computing and demonstrate some ability.

• Teamwork – This is another important skill to be able to demonstrate because most type of work requires teamwork of some sort. Team ork is also important not only at operational level but also at creative level.

Another way to improve your chances of landing an internship is to ask other students that have already been on internships. Finding out their experiences and what took them to lend their own places will improve your chances too. Knowing exactly how they applied and what they wrote on their application as well as how they did their interviews might not necessarily mean that you will get the position you seek but will definitely improve your chances.

Remember, once you have landed an internship placement you will need to make the most of it to enhance your reputation. The real purpose of an internship is to make your self a credible proposition for potential employers and to show that you are able to work along with other people and do a job you've been set.

When you are at work, do take advantage of the skills and expertise your seniors or colleagues have to offer as it will likely be excellent advice to heed even if they are criticisms because, unless they are being unhelpful, they are designed to help you.

All this will help in your quest to find a great job once you have completed you studies.