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Getting the first step right

It is never easy to pick a graduation stream. You might not have the aptitude for what you are interested in. And you might not be interested in doing what others say you are good at.

Getting the first step right


Sarvesh Agarwal

It is never easy to pick a graduation stream. You might not have the aptitude for what you are interested in. And you might not be interested in doing what others say you are good at. Also, your decision is often influenced by the opinions of your parents and teachers. The best way to test your skills and know the stream of interest is going for an internship. 

It is one such opportunity that can help you explore. It can help you understand the different job profiles that you can venture into. There might be a time when you feel that you do not have the desired skills for a particular job. In this case, opt for training courses and once you feel you have brushed up the basics, you can then apply to internships of your choice.

I would like to share the story of Pavan B Thotad, a student of a management school, New Delhi, and how he never gave up despite failures. He successfully landed an internship that made all the difference.

It was the season of summer internships and he and his batchmates were on a constant quest to find one. He was rejected by six companies he had applied to after the first round of group discussion. In spite of constant rejections, he did not get disheartened, but instead noted down the errors he had made. Then in November of that year, United Biscuits, Pladis Global, visited his college and offered an internship with a PPO to their top performing interns. Various rounds of interview were conducted, and he sailed through them because he made sure to not to repeat the same errors he had made in the past. 

During his internship period, he was associated with McVitie's biscuits. His work was to manage and increase the sales at a specific area in Bangalore. He worked hard and sought help from seniors whenever required and by the end of his internship; he generated 25 per cent more revenue than what the company was generating through traditional sales. He also submitted strategies for various departments that could better the revenue and received appreciation from the national sales head of the company. A couple of weeks later, he received a PPO from United Biscuits and realised that the sleepless nights were all worth it!

This should help you understand how an internship can change the trajectory of your career. Also, employers are keen on hiring students who have a previous experience. Internships help in honing the skills that your future employers will benefit from.   

Here are few interesting profiles you could intern and build a career in:

1 Content writing: There are plenty of opportunities in this profile and established companies and startups are always in search of content writers. Moreover, quality writing skills can work to your advantage, even as you scout for other opportunities.

2 NGOs: Interning with an NGO will not only help you understand the problems of our society at the grassroots level, it’ll also improve your problem-solving ability and communication skills. NGOs look for volunteers round the year and thus you can avail ample opportunities.  Working for NGOs also involves field work, which will help you gain a lot of exposure. 

4 Marketing: Behind every product that has ever been made, there is a marketing team at work, trying to reach out to the target audience. This profile is not for the faint-hearted and weak-willed. You might fail many times, but when you earn success, you might just strike gold. 

5 Programming: Every website, application or platform requires services of a programmer. This is an ideal choice for those who have a flair for coding. These internships will give you enough experience and exposure to help get a job later or to start something of your own in the IT industry.

Thus, an internship will help you get a steady pocket-money. It will also help you better your chances at getting a job or converting your internship into a job.

3 Digital marketing: Anything that is shared on social media stays in the mind for long. Since people spend a lot of time on social media platforms, it makes for a great marketing platform. Explore key demographics and sociological indicators through social media posts. It is a window into the world’s mind.

— The writer is the founder and  CEO of Internshala.

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