8 Ultimate Truths About Internships

Let’s say you finally got your diploma, that freshly-printed little piece of paper, already laminated and framed, ready to be hung on the wall at your workplace. Long years of tedious studying are left behind… Well done! Do you expect a cookie for that? If so, go get yourself one, along with a sticker for a good job and a medal (a chocolate one). The only thing you most definitely will not get is a job.

That was actually a bit harsh and exaggerated, but the truth is that labor market is overcrowded, the competition out there is fierce and you do not have anything so special about you yet, no matter what your parents have to say. That is why your CV will probably end up getting lost in the “reject” pile amidst many other similar, faceless resumes of your former fellow students.

With that being said, let’s muse on how to break this vicious circle. Have you ever thought about taking an internship? I bet you have. Not all students and definitely not all graduates are eager to intern. I guess, for starters, they would prefer the CEO’s chair. Nevertheless, here are eight ultimate truths about internships that will help you decide if you need one.

Truth #1. You Need It

Yeah, you need to intern. There is literally nothing to decide. You may be smart, proactive, ambitious and hardworking, all those adjectives you put in your CV, but you do lack experience and you know it. Unfortunately, your experience is the only thing your future employer will actually care about. Fortunately, taking an internship could solve this little problem.

Truth #2. You Will Probably Suffer

Well, at least it will be challenging. Imagine being cut off your usual environment and tossed into a completely alien one. During an internship, you will have to adapt to new surroundings, new schedule, and new people who will treat you as if you were a worthless piece of… an utter disappointment. Just bear in mind that all changes are stressful, but they are also necessary in order to move ahead with your life. Oh, you will also get little or no money at all for your work. However, getting experience is way more important than getting paid now. Internships can be voluntarily or paid, but anyway you won’t be making sufficient money and that’s perfectly ok. Roll with it.

Truth #3 (a consolatory one) Interns Are Allowed To Fail

In many companies, interns are treated as inferiors. They do not get paid much, they get all the boring tasks and people are rarely interested in their ground-breaking, revolutionary ideas. Shitty as it is, there is one perk of being an intern. No one expects you to be good at it. That doesn’t mean that you can be late for work or neglect your duties, but you can stop worrying about making mistakes. An internship is all about trying out new things and making mistakes, receiving a scolding for those mistakes and trying again.

Everyone in the company will probably think that they are better than you, everyone will try to mentor you, guide you on every step of the way. Well, just let them! Take advantage of their hubris and learn from the experience of professionals!

Taking an internship is like enrolling into college where you are the only student. It is a great opportunity to learn since you won’t be left alone anyway. Everyone knows those good for nothing interns are never to be left unattended. Someone will be constantly watching over you so ask questions, pitch ideas (just do not expect anyone to actually listen to your opinion) and learn, learn, learn!

Truth #4. It Is Not For Long.

Most internships take no longer than 3-6 months. One year, tops. Therefore, no matter how hard it seems to be, you can be sure it will be over very soon. As an intern, you can put up with certain things such as an unsatisfactory paycheck and slightly scornful treatment, but you will not be an intern for the rest of your life. Once you’ve served your sentence, you will be free to go, battle-hardened and with something good to put in your CV.

Truth #5… or Is It For Long?

Internships are not always that bad, you know. In fact, many former interns are willing to get full-time jobs in the same companies. First of all, it is much easier! If you manage to prove yourself qualified and productive as an intern, there is a fat chance, that you will be offered to stay. No CVs, no job interviews, isn’t it great? If there is a certain company you would like to work for, try to take an internship there. Get your foot in the door!

Truth #6. It Is Great for Establishing Connections

However, even if you will not get a full-time position at the company, you will not leave empty-handed. An internship is a great possibility for some efficient networking. Your ultimate task is to communicate! With your bosses, with your mentors and with your peers. You never know who could be useful to you in the future, so be friendly towards everyone. Maybe that other intern Josh will start his own business someday and will remember that you helped him out when the copying machine broke down. Maybe Elisa, the chief editor, will mention your excellent writing skills to another company’s editor where the job opening just occurred.

Truth #7. The More The Merrier

Well, for starters, the more internships you take the more CV points you have. Seriously, though, internships are a great way to get to know the industry from the inside and also get versatile experience. You can compare different companies and their strategies on the market, you can try various jobs and figure out what yoеu like doing the most. Within a year, you could work at least in four different places and in four different positions. Now, that is what I call experience!

Truth #8. Intern Abroad If Possible

With all that globalization going on, international experience is worth double! Come to foreign lands, ferret out all their professional secrets and come home to share them with domestic companies! Jokes aside, a person who had taken an internship abroad, is very valuable. An abroad internship would speak for your courage, your self-sufficiency, your willingness to risk and readiness to adapt. Thus, if you have a choice, choose an abroad internship in order to expand your horizons and, by the way, improve your language skills.

Truth #9. Internships Are Easy To Find

Hey, at least it is easier than searching for a job without experience! Check out sites like https://www.internships.com and https://www.wayup.com. The broad search criteria will help you find the perfect hit! And if you are ready for a challenge, visit this site https://www.goabroad.com/intern-abroad and intern abroad.