Close friends Arnav Kapoor and Ravi Singh are students of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur. Both had their eyes set on the prestigious Google internship right from the start, however, while Arnav worked continuously for it and applied six months in advance, Ravi remained complacent. When he finally did get down to applying in March, Google had already closed it application window. That was when a distressed Ravi realised how competitive internships could be.
The entire process of bagging that dream internship may seem quite tedious – you need to narrow down on where you wish to intern, prepare your resume, cover letter and any other documents that are needed, start applying online, follow up and prepare for the actual internship. However, if, like Arnav you set eyes on your goal right from the start, getting an internship can prove to be easier that you think. Here is how you can get your internship process right the first time:
Make a list: Jot down a list of the top five or ten organizations/individuals/institutions you wish to intern with. Read up on their websites about their internship policies – find out the application deadlines. Once you have narrowed down on whom you wish to intern with, you need to pick up the phone/send those emails, NOW.
Follow up: After you have sent your application, follow up with the company’s internship coordinator, or college professor, and check if your application has reached them. Offer to provide more information if required. This shows that you are genuinely interested in the organization.
Don’t take no to be the final answer: While rejections can be difficult, you can use it to your advantage and fuel your internal fire further. If a particular individual or company rejects your internship request, find out why and try to work it out. If it still does not work out, don’t be disheartened – knock on other doors.
Ace that interview: Going for an internship interview prepared is half the battle won. Research about the organization that you are looking to intern with, find out more about their plans, whether they have been in the news lately, where do they stand among the competition, who their employees are and what backgrounds they come from. This information would put you in a good stead during your interview process. The same applies with individuals under whom you wish to intern. Following the organization/individual on social media is a great way of figuring out their background, plans and culture.
Grab that opportunity: Remember the old proverb – opportunity comes knocking once – answer it when it does. We live in a world of technology where YouTube stars are millionaires and Vine users are getting cast into movies, we live in a world where anything is possible.
Finally, foreign internships are not just about academics – you get to travel around, immerse yourself in the culture, learn many survival skills, meet some wonderful people, and otherwise
have an experience of a lifetime. All you need is the motivation, interest and confidence to see your internship through.
About the author:
Aniket Singh works for Apple Inc. in California, United States. He is also the author of “Intern Abroad This Summer”.
Aniket holds a BTech degree in Electrical Engineering from the IIT, Madras, Chennai, and a Master’s degree in Wireless Systems from Politecnico Di Torino in Torino, Italy. He has interned at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and Ecole Polytechnic Federale de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland during this studies.
Visit him at www.aniketsingh.com
Check out his book at www.internabroadthissummer.com
