A way of testing career choice...

Internships give chance to find out about that job.

There’s loads of information and advice available to jobseekers and employees on what employers want from them. But where do “interns” or “apprentices” fit if?

According to Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus and Business College, the golden rules when you get an opportunity to do an internship at a company are: go the extra mile to find out what the employer expect, be ambitious, treat everyone with respect, and take part in as many tasks as you are asked or offered to do.

“I worry when I hear someone say ‘Don’t worry too much, it’s only an internship’, she says. “Students should approach an internship – or any on-the-job training opportunity – with some seriousness and lots of appreciation.”

Remember that employers specifically want from interns’ willingness to learn, a can-do attitude, enthusiasm, motivation, ability to communicate well and get on well with diverse people, and a sense of gratitude.

These traits are things that cannot be taught, like skills and knowledge. Employers are not obliged to give students internship opportunities. They do so for two reasons: to contribute to the country’s skills development efforts and to identify new blood for their talent pool. Students are the ones who stand to gain much more from an internship or on-the-job training stint.

“Most students know the value of an internship,” says Rabson.

“In our experience, the majority of students work hard to get a chance to apply their knowledge and skills in a real work environment.” At the beginning of this year, Boston City Campus and Business College launched a special internship programme called Experience It! to assist students in gaining real time work skills and experience.

The process is simple: interested students apply for Experience It! internship opportunities at the Boston branch they’re studying at and the college then attempts to place them at a company where they can work for a few weeks. Rabson points out that an Experience It! internship is different from a regular holiday job.

Experience It! ensures that students that go on internships get experience that is directly related to the job they aspire to do in the future. Boston has appointed permanent staff to run the Experience It! programme and theses members of staff are tasked with finding potential work experience openings at a variety of companies, and they also assist with grooming students for these positions.

“The principles are the same and many of the processes are the same, but yet there are subtle differences between a normal job application and an internship application,” Rabson explains.

“And although both work for the same company, there is also a difference between being an employee and an intern. It’s important to know about these differences, so that you can find a way to get in and fit in a real workplace comfortably.”

Spotlight on internships

Similarities between looking for a job and looking for an internship

Just like a normal job seeker, students looking for internships need to:

• Compile a CV, provide proof of the training they have completed and supply references.
• Apply for various internship opportunities
• Prepare for and attend personal interviews
• Speak, dress and behave professionally
• Research the company they’re applying for – find out about the company’s vision, goals, products, reputation in the marketplace and so on.
• Set career goals for the short-and long –term

What an employee and an intern have in common

Interns are not employees, but yet are expected to:

• Act responsibly and respect those in authority
• Be punctual
• Build good relationship with co-workers, managers and customers.
• Ask for help where necessary, but be able to work independently
• Carry out tasks for the best of your ability
• Be committed to their jobs, albeit temporary.
• Be honest in all the dealings
• Adhere to policies, rules and regulations
• Adhere to dress code and any other unwritten rules there maybe.
• Agree to leave if internship is not beneficial to both parties.

What makes an internship different?

• It’s of a temporary nature
• Interns have more freedom to experiment and to make mistakes.
• Interns can and should move between departments and test different job roles.
• Though interns must complete all tasks given, you can change direction if you don’t like or cannot do the job assigned.
• Interns are expected to ask questions and be willing to learn at every opportunity.
• Companies are not obliged to pay interns (but many do so).

For the best value be fussy when choosing a college

THINK like a fussy buyer when deciding on further education – and ensure you get value for your money. This according to Kerry Damons of Boston City Campus and Business College who advises prospective students and their parents or sponsors to pay attention to the finer details when choosing an educational institution.

“Not all colleges and institutions of further study are the same, even if they offer similar course,” she points out. “To ensure that you get value you desire, think like a fussy buyer about to make a big sum of money – we read the fine print, study the payment plan, ask questions and carefully weigh the options against one another.

Where applicable we ask about guarantees in case something goes wrong, ask friends and family for their opinions and then – more often than not – we sleep over it before finally handing over our hard earned money.

“Value clearly entails more than the price in rands and cents and that is why individuals make different choices, even if they have the same amount of money at their disposal,” she points out . You wouldn’t dream of buying an expensive smart phone without first looking at the product specifications, would you?

You’d probably also want to hold one in your hand to make sure you like the feel of it and that it works for you.”

Choosing a college requires a similar process of checking out, but remembers to include the following additional points:

• See if the college offers career consultations to ensure that you are on the correct pathway.
• Check if the college is on the Department of Higher Education and Training register of private higher education institutions by visiting www.education.gov.za or phoning 012 312 5320. The official logos of the Department of Higher Education and Training, SAQA, CHE or Umalusi may, by law, not appear on college brochures so each student has to check for him/herself that college is accredited.
• Get brochure or prospectus from college and check if details correspond with the details on the Department’s register.
• Visit the premises of the college with a friend or family member, ask to see where you will study, what academic and social facilities are on offer.
• Get references from someone you believe to have high career aspirations who studied or is currently studying at the college where you intend enrolling.
• Read the requirements and procedures relating to admission, exams and academic progress- keep these on hand as a reference during your studies.
• Read and understand facts regarding study fees and cancellation rules.
• Calculate how far you will have to travel to class every day, and if travel costs or time are an issue, try to choose a college that is close to home.
• Negotiate the best interest rate if you are borrowing money to pay for your studies. Student loans should have a low interest rate.
• Apply for as many bursaries, grants sponsorships.
• Look for student testimonials from past successful graduates. Don’t just register at any college and hope for the best – you can end up wasting your time and money studying for qualification that is not recognized or has little value in the job market.

blog comments powered by Disqus