It has been almost five months since I started my first internship at the EVBox Group. Due to the pandemic, I started out in a relatively unpromising internship market situation but eventually found a good intern role. Keep reading if you’re interested in my take-aways from this time and my tips for other ComSci students seeking an internship.
My Take-Aways From My Internship at EVBox
On my first day, I was told that EVBox is undergoing a lot of changes due to the scale-up going public and that this would affect the tasks associated with my role. While this initially made me feel a little anxious, it turned out to be the beginning of an internship full of opportunities as there was room for me to suggest what I would like to work on based on my strengths. I learned that change is something that can help you grow if you embrace it. Yet, I would lie if I didn’t admit that it can also be frustrating (e.g. once one of my projects was dropped and I had wasted one week of work). But overall, I surely draw a positive balance.
Would I Recommend EVBox to Other Interns?
This is a definite yes! EVBox Group is a great company and if you’re not scared of persistent change, you will have a great internship experience here. Interns are a constant part of the marketing team and there is an intern role for so many communication-related positions from branding and content to PR and marketing research. Furthermore, you will find yourself in an environment in which you’re welcome as an intern to voice your ideas and opinions.
My Tips for ComSci Internship Seekers
- Don’t worry about not ticking all the boxes
“We are looking for a student doing their bachelor in [fill in anything not related to ComSci]”. Don’t worry about applying for internships which seem exciting but ask for a different background. Once, I literally got an interview because my academic background was unusual compared to other applicants AND I was offered the position in the end! Your interest and argumentation of how you could contribute with your skills can be more important than the subject you study! - If you can, take longer than 3 months
While I interned at the most welcoming company, it took me around 3 months to really feel confident and competent in my role. It takes a lot of time to understand how things are working in a company and 3 months is a very short time to figure this out. Yes, those two extra months that are left of the semester sound tempting to keep free for a nice vacation. But believe me, in the end you will grow and learn so much if you decide to add them to your internship. - Be critical about the interviewing process
Chances are you don’t just want to find any internship, but one that allows you to expand your skills while having a great working experience. Be critical about how you feel about the culture and competence of your future supervisor during the interview. It might be your dream company in terms of their activities but if there isn’t a strong cultural match and it seems like there is little to learn from your supervisor, it likely won’t be as rewarding as it could be.