Be a smart Intern

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Swati Khatri

Internships can prove to be a serious business for one's career progression.It’s that time of student life that helps one get a hands on experience on the job of one's choice. A time that can help one land the first job and understand the corporate culture one is well suited for. So being a smart intern who is seen as a worthy candidate is what makes all the difference.

Making the right choices

Making the right choices is always the first step to success. The most important factor in your internship is your project. It’s always advisable to select a project which is of interest to you. Saurabh Uboweja, CEO, Brands of Desire, explains it as, “The most important thing to be considered here is not to be awed by big names and concentrate on the subject matter you want to work on.” A substantial work experience at your internship will prove to be fruitful in the long run. Go for a better subject rather than another run-of-the-mill thing that won’t let you stand apart. Another important decision to be made at this stage is selecting the right organisation to work for. The best thing will be to research about the core company policies and then decide on the best bet for yourself. This way you won’t have to face any disappointment in case you realise that the culture of the place of your internship is a total misfit for you.

Be self-motivated

You need to be motivated enough to come across as someone who really wants to create a career out of your internship and not someone who just wants to qualify for an academic degree. As Uboweja explains, “Remember you are just out of college. Corporates understand that you may not be able to make a difference to the bottom line of the company, but what your supervisor wants to see is that spark in you to accept challenges.”

Another important thing to be considered is that your Internship experience is a learning experience and the best way to learn is to have an open mind set. Don’t take feedbacks in a negative light, most of the times the hiring managers give you a feedback because they want to hire you when you are a bit more ready to face the real challenges. Sushmita Gupta, Head of HR, Turtle Limited puts it as,“Taking your feedback positively is very important; as at this stage of your career your attitude towards your work is the most significant things of all.”

And last but not the least after giving your best shot keep in touch with the people in the organisation. This way you will not be just another intern but someone who is not forgotten at the time of final recruitments.

Personal branding

In today’s world of marketing and branding don’t forget to work on your personal brand — that is you. Come across as a package that the company would want to hire in the long run. Here the first and foremost thing will be to be presentable in the way you dress up along with having a confident body language. You need to come across as someone who is really interested in the job. Not missing on the deadlines is the best way to show your dedication. Apart from doing your work in the right way being vocal about your achievements can help you create the right impression. Kishore Poduri, Senior Vice-President & Head, HR, DBS Bank, India,advises, “A good idea will be to come up with weekly presentations and reports to let your mentor have clarity of your progress. In case you would like to meet the HR manager or someone up the hierarchy, you can request for a meeting to showcase your project at the end of your internship tenure.” Along with showcasing your talent, introducing yourself to people in the organisation is very important. Just go ahead and talk to people; having engaging conversations at coffee breaks or office get togethers can go a long way. These are the tools that let people understand that you are a team player and can be trusted while working in teams. And even if you are not absorbed by the same company, a few references on your CV are always a positive thing.