Written in bold at the bottom of page 4 in the ‘Internship Guide College of Communication’ was a strong advisory against taking up an internship with a start-up. The Department of Communication Science warned about the difficulty in meeting learning objectives and receiving proper supervision in such companies. However, as a student who chose to intern at a start-up, I would like to share my insights based on my experience.
My name is Maj Asano Nielsen, a third-year bachelor’s student in Communication Science. To fully dedicate myself to potential future employers, I ambitiously overloaded my semester, aiming to complete most of my courses before starting the internship program. Do I recommend this approach? Yes and no. While it pushed my stress levels to the limit, it also proved that I could handle it (although I wouldn’t do it again). Moreover, by doing so, it allowed me to fully apply the knowledge gained during the bachelor’s course, and for that, I am grateful.
Two months prior to the internship program, my quest for a full-time internship began. Fortunately, a stroke of luck came my way when a friend who had been interning at a start-up offered to arrange an informal interview at the company. After a few emails, a video call, and an in-person interview, I received the news that the start-up wanted to bring me on board for a full-time internship. Relief, joy, and excitement overwhelmed me. This experience taught me a valuable lesson even before the internship officially began persistence, eagerness, and proactive engagement are crucial when searching for internships or jobs in a competitive market like Amsterdam.
Fast forward to the present day, after completing my internship requirement, I can confirm that interning at a start-up is no easy task. However, it provides unique opportunities for taking on responsibilities and roles beyond what one would typically encounter at the start of their career. I appreciated the chance to grow professionally by learning practical skills like graphic design and conducting industry-specific research within the media landscape. In conclusion, while the Internship Guide cautioned against interning at a start-up, my personal experience contradicted these expectations. Despite the challenges, I found immense value and growth by embracing the opportunity. However, I do believe that it should only be done if you are willing to put in the extra hours at night to complete university-related requirements. Thus, I believe that interning at a start-up can be a rewarding experience, offering daily lessons and room for professional development that may not be possible in more established companies.
Leave a Reply