The prospects of gaining internships and work experience are integral parts of the university education since it provides the chance to implement theories learned in practical situations. Besides acting as bullet points on a student’s CV, they also allow a student to gain valuable information about a field of study or practice to allow them to make more informed career choices. 

Let’s talk about the concept of internships and work experience, how one can secure a chance in their area of interest and the ways one can get the most out of the gained experience.

Importance of Internships and Work Experience

Internships and work experience take an importance of their own in terms of the transition between theory and practice. 

Practical Application of Knowledge

Classroom learning helps students to get a theoretical knowledge and guide, while interns enable one to practise on what he/ she has learned. Such applied knowledge enhances expositions of various concepts and demonstrates its real-life application in a given field.

Skill Development

The opportunity to have internships brings skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management skills in the market. These are the skills that employers really appreciate and are numerous of times best worked for while on-the-job.

Networking Opportunities

Internships are a great opportunity to make a contact list within a certain field that will be helpful when beginning a job search for the first time. In an internship, networking to get job offers, to be mentored and to get other useful contacts in lieu of employment is very important.

Career Exploration

From the internships students are able to discover more areas of interests and the particular field that they want to work in. It is the ability to get an insight of a certain career or sector and decide whether one wants to be associated with it.

Enhanced Employability

Employers are always on the lookout for internship experiences since it differentiates applicants from the rest in the job market. Since employers prefer active employees, work experience proves to the employer that the student is active, motivated and has practical experience in the specific field he or she is hired in.

Finding Opportunities in Your Field of Interest

Getting the desired internship or work opportunity is not easy; it takes some level of effort, patience, and at times innovation. Here are some strategies to help you find the best opportunities in your field of interest.

Utilise University Resources

In fact, most universities have offices, which are solely responsible for guiding students on internships or providing avenues for getting internships. Such resources may entail a list of current employment vacancies, employment CV/info-sheet clinics as well as interview practice sessions. Register for the career fairs and other networking events your university has to offer in a bid to get a feel of employers to target.

Online Job Portals

Indeed, dubizzle, LinkedIn, Glassdoor are among the best places to look for internships. They enable you to search available opportunities within some specific careers, locations, and industries. Other methods include keeping track of latest vacancies and applying through job portals. 

Company Websites

If you are set on a particular company for the internship, make a habit of visiting the respective firms’ website for the available internships. A vast majority of organisations have formal internships, and most of them contain information about the program via website.

Networking

Professors and classmates, relatives and friends can also help, as well as other interrelated services. Make sure to let them know you’re looking for an internship, and in what field. There are occasions where a job opening is not publicly advertised for, but will be found through networking.

Professional Associations

Develop links with existing professions,associations and organisations pertaining to your area of interest. This is the case since the organisations offer members access to job listings, initiate networking sessions, and internships. Membership can also show a way to become as well as show your devotion to your field.

Speculative Applications

In case you do not discover advertised internships matching your areas of interest, you can apply to companies with a speculative application. Inform them that you liked their work and ask them about the available internships if any. It is sometimes said that this proactive approach can sometimes open up other opportunities which are otherwise unforeseen.

Internships and other work experiences are also important for university students as these give them real life experiences, real life knowledge as well as gives an advantage in the job market. Therefore, if you have a goal oriented approach, you will be able to build a strong contention for your career during internship.