Read this before your next internship
Internships are a great way to cement your learning. They can take different forms, so it’s important you know what you’re signing up for, what’s expected of you and what questions you should be asking.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS AN INTERNSHIP?
We believe an internship should:
- Provide learning and development opportunities
- Offer experiences that will benefit the you - the intern
- Not be used as a ‘trial’ for intended permanent employment
- Take place for a defined period
- Take place under supervision and professional guidance of a senior mentor
WHY SHOULD I DO AN INTERNSHIP?
Internships, where you put your learning into practice, increase your employability factor in more ways than one.
- They teach you the ways of a workplace. Office etiquette, what happens in meetings, how teams communicate, there is so much more that you’ll learn from an internship than how to put your degree into practice.
- You’ll gain other skills. Confidence in putting your ideas across, interpersonal skills with different layers of an organisation, teamwork, problem-solving and more.
- You’ll see some great role models in action. Sometimes the best way to learn is to watch. You’ll get to see others in action and learn how the pros do it.
- You’ll test out a potential career path. If you’re doing a broad degree, an internship allows you to try out a certain pathway.
- You have an opportunity to show your future employer that you’re ready to hit the ground running. You’ve got some good, relevant experience under your belt.
- You’ll grow your networks. Entering into your chosen field, it is beneficial to have some contacts who can help guide you and vouch for you.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN INTERNSHIP?
Look for an internship that allows you to ‘test the waters’ for a potential career path. Look for one that gives you broad experience. Here are some questions you should be asking:
- What will you be doing?
- It should be a mutually beneficial scenario where you’re adding value and helping an organisation and you’re given the opportunity to grow and learn and be guided.
- Who will you be working closely with?
- Get an understanding of the team you’ll be working in, what their function is and how you fit in to it.
- Who will be there to guide you?
- Is there a senior mentor to meet with regularly to guide you? Who is there to teach and support you?
TYPES OF INTERNSHIPS
Internships can run differently in different types of companies. It’s your responsibility to understand what the difference are, and what you are signed up for before you start.
VOLUNTARY INTERNSHIPS
Also called work experience or unpaid internships. In this scenario there should be even more emphasis on the exchange of your time for new skills. There should be a written agreement so both parties are clear on what the arrangement is and you may need to ask some direct questions to get clarity. Some good questions to ask are:
- How long is the internship for? It should not be open-ended
- What are you going to learn during your time within the organisation?
- What supervision or mentorship can you expect?
- Will there be a reference at the end of it for your CV?
- Is there provision for expenses to be covered? (travel and other ‘out of pocket’ expenses)
PAID INTERNSHIPS
If you are being paid, you are an employee of the company and therefore a contract should be in place before you start. This contract should cover:
- Your hours: days of the week and hours per day including rest and meal breaks
- Timeframe of the contract: anywhere from several days to one year
- A position description: what tasks will you be responsible for
- Payment: the amount as well as pay cycle, payment for overtime or holidays
- Employee benefits: you will be eligible for holiday pay, and depending on the timeframe, sick leave. Other employee benefits vary between companies.
For more information visit the Employment New Zealand website.
AFTER YOUR INTERNSHIP
While your internship is not a promise of full-time employment after you graduate, it is your time to shine! Treat it like an extension of your studies and the best way to increase your employability, work-readiness and to gather some valuable skills to kick-start your career.
Round off your time by asking for feedback on how you performed, and agreement from your supervisor to use their name as a referee. Make sure you take time to reflect on your new skills and experience, update your CV and LinkedIn profile and invite your new colleagues to Link In with you.