Getting through your university years can be a drag sometimes, which is why some people find it a little more challenging, others enjoy adding an internship onto their resume. There are also those who are encouraged and eager to take the first step, but are held back by fears or restrictions that they are unable to move past due to their lack of awareness. I have spoken to college students of different ages and majors to understand their fears and how they can overcome them.
Most universities around the world require students to graduate with an average of 3 months of work experience as interns. This helps students prepare for post grad life where they will move on to full time jobs in order to start focusing on their careers. It is very normal to be a student who chooses to separate the two, one student in particular stated, “Why should I feel like I need to worry ahead of time? I will get the chance to start working once I graduate, but for now I would rather enjoy my free time.” This was stated by a 3rd year student, studying Business Marketing at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to this one, since most would go on to say the same thing.
Other students, on the other hand, have the will to start yet are unaware of the resources they require. An AUC student in her first year, whom is also undeclared, told me, “I’ve thought about interning many times, but I heard from others that as an intern, your co-workers treat you as someone who is inexperienced, while giving you no work with any real purpose for it. So I’d rather not have to deal with any of it.” If anyone can relate to this, then here are a few tips to help you overcome. Most companies hire interns to assist their full time employees when they have a phase that will not include a lot of work, mainly during summers and winters. Once you begin the internships, your boss will require you to work on projects that “help you more than they help them” yet they end up helping no one. Turn that project into something you will look back and be proud of, forget the brief, forget what they asked you to do, have some fun with it, they won’t need it anyway. Another student, in her fourth year of Applied Arts in GUC, stated,” I would start if I could, but I don’t know where to start looking? Should I post my portfolio on Behance and just sit and hope for the best? Or should I write something on Facebook? I never found out where I need to go to start looking.” The best way to answer this question is to tell you to focus on the people you see; talk to them and ask them about where they work, once you hear something interesting, ask them to please refer you to their boss if they need any interns. This will help you start working in an environment where you have a familiar face at the office.
The perks of interning are that once you start filling up that CV earlier, you will be able to graduate with more experience than most people in your age group, which will then make you noticeable once you start applying for jobs after graduation. Also, you could end up getting a part-time job at the company and end up getting a salary that will allow you to save up a few to start your path to independence.
No matter what troubles you face, if you think you are capable of interning while studying, then I would highly recommend that you go for it. It will help you with your studies, give you more experience, and give you a leg up early in the game.
