4 Things to do before applying for an internship position
Entering an internship can be both exciting and intimidating. So here are, in my opinion, four things that should be considered before applying for an internship position:
- Conduct research about the company you will be working for
I find it particularly important to do research about a business that you want to work in. Although external research cannot be relied on to give you accurate data about the corporate culture or the overall ambiance, I believe it still provides information such as the services that the company offers, which type of projects they have been running, which clients they have been servicing etc…
Conducting this research is essential as it helps you find out if you are entering your dream job or running toward a living nightmare.
- Ensure that you have what it takes to be part of the team
Ensuring that you are entering your dream job is one thing but one of the most effective ways to avoid frustration or disappointment is to make sure that you are fully equipped for what is ahead of you. As a new team member, you will be expected to add value to the agency so ensure that you have all the skills required for the job you will be expected to do. If a lot of writing is coming your way, perfect your writing skills, if the requirements are more on the design side, take several lessons of design; work at perfecting your skills beforehand.
- Familiarise yourself with the terminology and jargon that you might come across.
This comes back to the research part. As you are conducting research about your future workplace and finding out if it is what you are looking for, also ensure that you are knowledgeable about everything they are up to. Familiarise yourself with the various terms that you might come across regularly in order to ensure that you won’t feel lost once you are part of the team.
- Ask for advice from someone who is already in the industry
Whether you are pursuing a PR career or not, I believe it is often a great help to ask advice or guidance from someone who has been part of the industry for quite a long time. Although they might portray the business according to their own experience, it is always important to have a second opinion; especially from someone who has already been through what you are about to enter into.
I conclude by saying that the key to an enriched internship experience is simply applying for something that you love and are passionate about. Sometimes we tend to be bothered about details such as the distance or the remuneration but believe me, they should come last.