Traineeship Program: Base to explore industry

Hunt for internship opportunities and get better prepared for your first job search. It’s like a practice-session!

Internship is a kind of stepping stone to anyone’s career. Unfortunately, not many of us pay much attention to it and those who are well aware of its importance often tend to ignore certain aspects. The very obvious advantage of doing an internship is that it helps us prepare for the real-time work environment and build network. And, if everything goes well, one can also get his/ her first job offer at the end.

Students who are interested in traineeship programs need to focus on different areas. First, it is better to create an e-mail ID with one’s own name because an employer is likely to notice it first. Second, checking e-mails on regular basis and answering phone calls in a formal tone are next important things. Third, one should dress up formally as it reflects on the personality of a person. Fourth, casual attitude or approach is dangerous because companies judge candidates on two grounds 1) passion for work and 2) urge to do something different.

Apart from these aforementioned points, a candidate should focus on the company and its functions. Accordingly, he or she should prepare a resume which contains required skills, strengths and qualification. Writing a focused cover letter on the chosen company is another pre-requisite. It should briefly show your knowledge about the company and the contribution that you can make towards its growth.

According to experts, it is important for candidates to emphasize on their eagerness to learn during the entire process. Usually, students want to join internship or trainee programs of the big companies. But, the fact is that small companies provide better opportunities in this field. Also, advertising and PR firms in the creative sector are a good choice as they encourage new thoughts over traditional approach.

Tips to remember
Candidates searching for internship opportunities are advised to register with their respective college career desks. Visiting the website/ concerned authority on a regular basis is a must. Further, interested candidates can also check internship sites of the companies to get details about the location, stipend and types of project. For example, internship details for IBM can be obtained from the Training and Placement Offices which issue advertisement for the same.

Usually, interns are not paid for their services to the company. If somebody can manage to enter into a paid internship, there is nothing like it. No matter, whether this is paid or unpaid, the benefits of doing an internship program are far greater than not doing it. One needs to analyze the value of the program in terms of the learning opportunity it brings.
Also, while preparing resume for internship, candidates can start with their achievements and learning experiences in college. The resume should be only one page long with concise information. Creating individual headings and highlighting important points are recommended.

Lastly, many companies do not advertise about their internship vacancies. In such a case, it is better to depend on one’s own network and use the opportunity at its best.