What is an internship good for, and how do I get one?

Ecco qualche consiglio su come cercare e affrontare uno stage all’estero. La prima cosa importante da sapere è che “stage” si pronuncia alla francese (letto all’inglese significa “palcoscenico”!). Per non sbagliare: chiamatelo internship, in inglese si dice così! E CV si dice “resumé”. By Candida DaFonseca

An internship is an excellent way to gain job experience, learn about an industry and grow your professional experience.

While many internships pay very little (and some not at all), the professional experience from a good internship will help you later on, when you are looking for a full-time job. With some internships, it’s even possible to transition to full-time, or to have a better chance of a job there, after graduation.

Internships can also help you get started on a new career path by giving you experience and personal connections, and help you decide whether it is the right career for you.

TIPS ON FINDING AN INTERNSHIP THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

1  Think about what you want to do
Do you want credit towards a university course? Are you looking for a full-time or a  part-time position? Are you interested in learning about a new career? Figure out what you want your internship to get you before you start applying.

2 Search cleverly
It’s much easier to fin a job or internship by meeting people. Do your teachers know anyone who could help you? Do you have any friends or mentors at companies you would like to work for? Visit career fairs in your area or in the areas that you would want to work. Talk to people who work in companies you are interested in. See what types of position they have available. If you are in school, there should be someone available to help you search for internships and lead you in the right direction.

Another way to get the right connections, especially if you don’t speak English well enough to work, is to take an English course that offers internship or summer job placement. Courses that offer English language learning and a professional internship can help you build your CV, make connections and gain experience with language and in business.

3 Update your resume/CV
Make sure that your CV is the best it can possibly be, and that all the information is correct, well written, and suits the positions that you’ve applied for. If you have never written a CV/resumé before, ask someone for help! It’s very embarrassing to realize you have errors in your resumé after you’ve already applied to the internship of your dreams!

4  Follow up afer you submit your resumé/CV
If you are interested in a particular internship, call or e-mail to check on your application. While some companies do not follow up, there is nothing to lose by sending an e-mail or making a phone call one week aer you submit your application. That is unless the application form specifically says “do not call”!

5 Keep applying!
The more internships you apply for, the better your chances of getting one. Don’t pick just one and hope for the best. Choose several internships, and you will get practice with writing cover letters, interviewing and speaking with managers. All of these things are valuable experiences, even if not every application leads to an internship.

Materiale fornito da Kaplan International English