If the idea of working a soulless bank job at PWC doesn’t exactly fill you with joy, then internships are pretty hard to find. Most of the intern programs out there are for finance positions with fancy businesses titles that I am sure are totally made up – what is a trainee recruitment consultant anyway? For those of us out there who want something a little more creative it may seem basically impossible, unless daddy happens to be a big deal ‘in Town’, (Bitter, me? Nahhhh).
Unpaid internships are pretty controversial as it is; firstly for exploiting student desperation and fashioning it into free labour, and secondly for how it disadvantages those who cannot afford to work for free. So when I heard about how some high fashion brands are auctioning off month long internships for as much as $1,385 for Balenciaga, and $1,000 for Oscar de la Renta, naturally I was fuming. Okay, so the fact that it’s a charity auction makes it a little more acceptable, but it is the mentality behind it that makes the whole thing seem completely immoral.
So resentful tirade aside, I’ve just finished a weeks work experience placement at a local magazine whom I located and contacted through a good old-fashioned Google search. While it was less Devil Wears Prada and more Bumpkin Dons Barbour, I still had a great time and learnt a lot about magazine publishing. Initially I was sceptical and considered it to be a bit of a time waster being stuck in an office researching sea trout populations in the South West. However, upon becoming a little more open-minded I actually decided to get stuck in with the goings on and managed to get a lot out of it in return.
After chatting to some friends who have managed to get some pretty swanky industrial placements, I have complied a list of the top five pieces of advice people seem to give on getting internships:
1. Research! Make sure that your cover letter shows that you know the company you are writing to well: one well researched application is much more valuable than ten generic ‘copy and pasted’ ones.
2. Use the University resources; Career Zone actually lists some pretty decent events and opportunities for networking. For second year students there are some great mentoring opportunities that put you in contact with Exeter alumni’s.
3. Even my one pretty pathetic work placement took some perseverance; three emails and four phone calls later and my week still wasn’t completely secure. So if I have learnt anything about getting a placement it is that if you persist you will find something. Bombard those email accounts, plague those phones and hassle those receptionists!
4. Develop a thick skin. After failing that numerical assessment you can’t just drown your sorrows in a bottle of pinot and Joanie Mitchell. This will just lead to further demoralization and won’t boost your confidence for the next application. You have to accept that you will encounter rejections, but it can’t get in the way of that eventual acceptance.
5. Have a daddy that is a big deal ‘in Town’. I know I know, rather hypocritical of me. Abusing family connections is morally questionable, but admittedly very effective. Or if you don’t have personal contacts then talk to friends and network away, you never know who has that obscure relative who could land you your dream summer placement.
The competition for graduates, and undergraduates, trying to secure work placements and internships has never been tougher. With the sheer lack of places available, compared to the amount of applicants, for any one role, it is vital to ensure that you have covered all your bases to give yourself the best possible chance. So whilst making sure you have ticked off HCX’s list of tips to secure that dream role, make sure you keep in mind these handy tips of what to avoid when seeking that internship!
1) Don’t let your nerves get the better of you. Granted, it is an extremely stressful situation to be in, and with so much economic uncertainty at the moment it is only natural you want to secure a placement ASAP. However, a potential employer wants to see that you can handle yourself and communicate well under pressure. After all most placements will introduce you to a relatively new environment, that will inevitably mean there will be times when the stress will hit. They want to make sure you will keep your cool and won’t find you having a breakdown underneath the photocopier at the first sign of trouble.
2) It’s tempting to stand out from the crowd at an interview or assessment day, and while you do have to give yourself an edge, turning up in this seasons Aztec printed leggings probably won’t go down too well. Even the fashion and arts industries want to see that potential interns have a sense of professionalism. If it is say a fashion magazine you’re pinning your hopes on interning for, research their archives for articles on work attire, they are bound to have some, and this will give you an insight in what they want to see. All in all dress to professionally impress.
Beware of social networking sites!
On HCX’s own travels to find an internship one thing has been red flagged again and again and that is the danger that Facebook can pose. Whilst you may roll your eyes at those Facebook friends whose names have mysteriously changed of late it is actually a pretty wise course of action. Social networking has become a massive way to market business and get their names out there. However, this also means ample opportunities for future employers to stumble across a drunken photo or status of yours that you have timepiece to thank for. Whilst you may now be a respectable member of society, a misguided comment may come back to haunt you. A survey conducted by CareerBuilder found that the top reason rejected candidates was due to an inappropriate photo being posted. So unless you want your SSB photos up in the staff room, remember social networks are just that, social, so keep it private.