As a Communication Science student at the University of Amsterdam, one of the requirements is to do an internship during your bachelor’s. I did my internship at Creative Clicks, a mobile marketing company. My experience searching for an internship and working in the corporate world has taught me a lot. That is why I want to share with you some tips about searching for an internship and my experience.
- Start your search early
There’s a reason why people keep on saying to start your search early! Certain companies have early deadlines and recruit months in advance before the commencement date. If you have a dream company in mind, make sure to check their website for their application procedures and deadlines. More importantly, do not miss the application date! Some companies receive hundreds or even thousands of applications, so if you send it after the deadline, you won’t be making a good impression, therefore, lowering your chance of selection.
- Use your Network
There’s nothing wrong in using your network to find internships. In fact, if you know someone that works in the company, you could have a greater chance of getting an interview by asking them to refer you.
- Ask questions during interviews
When preparing for an interview, it’s good to practice questions that they might ask you but also to put together beforehand questions for the interviewer. By asking insightful questions during an interview, it can put you ahead of other applicants and lead to an offer. It shows to the interviewer that you are interested in the position and that you prepared for the interview.
- It’s okay to quit
It can happen that the internship you have isn’t going that well, or that you found another internship that fits you better. After all, it’s the nature of the working world. Internships are a learning experience which is also meant to help you discover what you like and what you don’t like. If the company and you are not a match, don’t be afraid to quit, however, do not quit on an impulse. If the internship isn’t going well, give it a few weeks to see if there is any improvement. If not, discuss it with your internship supervisor and family and/or friends about your decision. If you have decided to leave your internship early, stay polite, be honest to your employer, and things will be fine. Make sure you thank the employer for their time and let them know their time is valuable.
- Every experience is valuable
Having an internship that did not turn out the way you expected it to be is also a good lesson in life. For example, in my case, although I learned new skills from my internship, it made me realise what I do not want to do in the future. It helped me cross off career ideas from my (long) list. Such that working in mobile marketing and doing social media content writing is not for me.
Thoughts? Let me know about any tips or advice you might have about landing your dream internship!