Since starting my third year of University it has been impossible to escape the internship conversations. It’s as if the topic has become one giant storm cloud constantly looming over us. University is for academics, that is why we are here. We have chosen to be here for a reason, because we enjoy what we study. This should be a holistic experience where we can explore our interests and passions, but it seems to have slowly become one giant strategic plan for the world that comes afterwards. I found it so easy to spiral down the rabbit holes of LinkedIn, stalking the successes of fellow students. It wasn’t until I openly spoke about it that I realised we are all actually in the same boat (as cliché as it sounds).
Internship Fatigue
Everybody is experiencing internship fatigue. Stressing about gaining adequate experience, especially when we are force fed the idea that you need to be a part of a graduate scheme for a job, and need an internship to secure the graduate scheme, and so-on-so-forth. It doesn’t help that we are also fed more stories about how harrowing the graduate job market is becoming every year, but towards the end of last semester I finally brought it up to a friend who gave a relievingly enlightening response; “there are a million ways to get from point A to point B“.
Yes, getting that internship is an amazing opportunity, but it is not the b-all and end-all to your chances at a rewarding career. Doing what you are interested in is the most helpful thing you can do for yourself, and if you are like me and have no idea what that could be, any experience is beneficial. For instance, if you absolutely love your summer job but feel like you need to be getting an internship instead, ask yourself why? There are of course very competitive areas, such as finance, that come with some expectations, but there are a plethora of opportunities for you to develop and grow that don’t just come as a summer internship at a bank. Something that a lot of people underestimate is the power in your network. I am not talking about your LinkedIn connections, or the nepotism in business, but real relationships you develop with people. Putting yourself out there is the best way to learn and grow. Don’t assume every opportunity comes in the form of a spring week meet up, as long as you are meeting people and expanding your experience you are on a path to your future.
A Different Perspective
A great quote to get you through this application season: “think of every no as a step closer to yes”. I am an avid believer that everything happens for a reason, and even if that’s not your way of thinking, I think this quote can be impactful. I was having coffee with a friend when she described it as so; if you were told that it would take 100 no’s for you to get a yes to your dream job, you would interpret it all so differently. So with that, take rejection as redirection. If you have been rejected from an application, internship, or job, take it as a sign that it just wasn’t meant for you. You might have hated it, and if you are rejected at this stage, it probably wasn’t a good fit for you. So take it as a step closer to what is meant to be.
There are so many incredibly successful people out there who had to hear no before they finally got where they are today. Look at Sylvester Stallone, his pitch for Rocky was rejected over 1,500 before he finally made it, and now he is one of the most famous actors in history. For years Vivienne Westwood was a primary school teacher until she decided to follow her passion for fashion and Viola Davis didn’t achieve stardom until she was in her 40s.
The best advice I can give is to speak up and ask for help. Talk to your friends, to people above you, to lecturers and professors. Reach out and ask, and you will realise how capable you are. This journey is about learning. We are not only stepping up the education ranks, but discovering who we are as adults, our likes and interests, and how we see our future. There are endless opportunities besides the traditional internship, so don’t dismiss the possibilities ahead by getting wrapped up in the frenzy!