Kick start your career with a challenging internship at CCTCF
Most university graduates wonder what the best way to enter the labor market is. After graduation, they begin to feel empty and lacking. "What do I do now?" This question haunts most graduates as they browse job listings online. All employers are asking for 2years of working experience at least; a requirement that eliminates most university graduates. One way to prepare yourself better for the job market is to do a well-supervised internship program at a professional company in the industry you intend to work in. At CCTCF for example, we accept interns who plan on working in business sectors like: Business Consulting, International Trade, E-commerce, Logistics and Shipping, Marketing and Advertising, Sales, Procurement and Quality Control, etc. If you are interested in one or more of these sectors you can apply for internship at CCTCF.
6 TIPS FOR ASPIRING INTERNS
Firstly, you need to ask yourself whether you are ready for internship. In some universities it is a requirement for graduation but in other universities it is optional. Either way, it is something that you need in order to get into the job market with confidence.
Secondly, you need to define your internship goals. Which departments do you want to explore? What skills exactly do you want to learn? Note that you can answer these questions by talking to a mentor, a guardian or your teacher at school. They can better orientate you on what you want. What really matters anyway is your readiness to take on the challenges. No skill learnt in life is useless, it is often said. You will always need it at some point in your life. So, don't be too picky. Learn anything that comes your way during the internship.
Thirdly, look at your schedule and see how much availability you have for the internship. Remember that companies want to see some serious commitment in terms of hours put in and efficiency. In most cases you will be given specific projects to work on and deliver results. So, if you don't have enough time to commit to your internship you may not be taken seriously and you will not get a good internship report from your supervisor at the company you have chosen. Ideally, you can be present at the company from Monday to Friday like a regular employee but if you can't, try to pick at least 3 days a week, state your available time and be consistent. Do not give the impression that you just stop by when you feel like to.
Fourthly, put aside some allowance for yourself. Remember that generally internships are not paid. In some rare cases companies may give you a little cash for things like lunch and errands but it is better to prepare your own pocket money for the internship period so that if the company happens to give you any money it should come as a bonus.
Fifthly, carry a notebook and make notes each time you learn something you find useful as you get along with the company staff. These notes help not only as reference in future when you need them but also help you write an excellent internship report at the end of the program. That report is usually needed back at school.
Last but not least, at the end of your internship, ask for an attestation of internship, an internship certificate and or a recommendation letter. It is not enough to finish and get your internship paper from school signed by management at the company. You need something else that is more formal and states the details of the work you did in 3 or 6months. An attestation of internship completion is a document that contains details of what you did and mentions the best skills you have. A good recommendation letter also mentions these things. It is important to ask for them because when you proceed to job hunting, although internship work experience is not usually counted as work experience, it still puts you above those who didn't even have any internship. It enriches your CV and gives you more confidence during job interviews, especially when answering the question relating to work experience.
In conclusion, get yourself a good internship and make the sacrifice to learn about company life. The investment is worth the trouble and as soon as you land your first job you will realize that you didn't waste your time. Final note: Some interns who excel during their internships end up getting hired by the same company. That could be you!
