You’re a fresh college graduate backed up with a degree from one of the top private universities in the country, a stellar QPI, an extensive list of extracurricular involvement, and a chock-full of recommendations up your sleeve. Landing a job would be the least of your worries, right?

Think again.

When buying a car, you take it for a test drive. Likewise, when it comes to education, nothing beats a good ol’ hands-on learning experience to gear up for your potential career: an internship. Not only are you able to apply the knowledge you in gained class; you also learn more than the usual textbook material.

The Premise

An internship is academic training in a work setting—whether paid, unpaid or partially paid—that grants a student an opportunity to put his education to work.

Its fundamental premise is that a student works beyond the traditional academic environment to gain practical job experience and expand his learning to a new dimension. Though interns are expected to work like any other employee, their core purpose is to receive supervision, instruction and mentorship.

The Prerequisites

Before you even start fussing about internship hunting, there are a few things you must tick off in your to-do list:

Begin with a self-assessment.

Whether you’ve only started exploring career paths or have had one in mind for as long as you can remember, be sure to evaluate your passions, skills and interests. Nothing beats the sense of fulfillment you get when you do something you love. So before all else, ask yourself: what do I really want?

Consult, consult, consult.

Seek advice from a career center. Even if you’re not certain as to what you want to do just yet, it will help you determine your skills, interests, passions and, eventually, a career that encompasses all of these. All you have to do is ask.

Brush up on your skills.

To stand out from the pack, knowing how to market yourself to would-be employers is important. In simpler terms, this translates to the skills of cover letter writing, resume preparation, and interview strategies—all of which you have to polish in order to land the internship you’ve set your eyes on.

The Hunt

It all starts with initiative. Internships don’t look for you; you look for them.

A good place to start would be our very own Ateneo Placement Office, which offers programs such as self-assessment-cum-career-counseling sessions, the job and practicum fair, on-campus recruitment, the job interview training program, and career counseling. However, if you still don’t find anything that caters to your inclination, there’s always the internet, newspapers, your network of alumni, contacts and professors, and even your family and friends. In internship hunting, resourcefulness is key.

The Follow-Up

Once you’ve applied at a certain company, don’t just sit back, relax, and wait. Your work doesn’t end there. As with job-hunting, following-up with each company via phone call or e-mail is a must. Be persistent, though not on the verge of being difficult. Show them the passion they will get to work with if they hire you.

Making the most out of it

So you just scored your way into an internship and are currently anticipating that first day. Now comes the most exciting and, perhaps, exhausting part of the entire course of this pursuit –working. Just like everything else, internships don’t last forever, so it’s imperative that you seize the moment.

Ask away.

Bear in mind that an internship is first and foremost a learning experience. Although your employer expects a certain degree of quality work from you, you are not expected to be familiar with everything. So whenever you come across something that is beyond you, seek advice and raise questions when appropriate.

Go the extra mile.

Take the initiative – offer to stay late when needed, ask for tasks rather than waiting to be assigned with one, and don’t be afraid to help in tackling challenging problems and to think outside the box in proposing solutions. As long as you remain aware of your boundaries, you’ll impress your supervisor and colleagues.

Build professional relationships.

Utilize your network to pave your way into your next career step. Don’t just limit yourself to your supervisor; make an effort to interact with your colleagues and other managers in the company.

Have fun.

Because working and learning can be enjoyable at the same time, condition your mind with enthusiasm and optimism early on. As long as you don’t neglect your work, your internship will turn out to be one unforgettable experience.

The Gist

In college, you’re bombarded with concepts, theories, and values. An internship grants you the opportunity to put all of those to work. On top of that, you gain experience and knowledge that classrooms can’t offer, preparing you even better for actual, full-blown employment.

At the end of the day, you can’t talk internship without thinking about your future. Think of it as a brand new car. You may know the technical details, but you’ll only really get a feel of it once you take it out for a ride.

Employment Essentials

APO Format

Employers can tell a lot from your resume, and it’s not just about what’s on it – it’s also in the way it looks.

Many companies segregate résumés by school and look at applicants from top universities first. Using the Ateneo Placement Office (APO) format lets potential employers know at a glance that you’re from Ateneo. Grab a copy from the APO at the second floor of the Social Sciences Building – it’s the office opposite the Guidance Office.

Education:
(Insert course here)
ATENEO!

Cover Letter

In addition to your resume, the cover letter lets you further show prospective employers why you’re perfect for the job. Think of it as a pitch – show them you know your skills and how those skills fit into their company. Address it to the person who’ll hire you, not just the “HR Department.” And never, ever have typos.

Dressing for the job

A job interview is like meeting your boyfriend or girlfriend’s parents for the first time—clothes that are too revealing send the wrong message. Girls, stick to natural makeup. Guys, shave and wear good shoes.

For the actual workplace, remember that while tailored looks work well for corporate and office-setting jobs, other workplaces have their own dress codes. In certain workplaces—a film set, for example—overdressing is taken as a sign of stuffiness and will make you a target for workplace mockery. Dressing for work is less about looking your polished, leather-shoed best and more about looking appropriate for the demands of your job.

Sloppy
– T-shirts
– Wrinkled/torn jeans
– Rubber shoes and slippers

Stuffy
– Three-piece suit
– Shirts buttoned all the way up
– Jewelry with the family crest and similarly pretentious items

Interview Etiquette

Before: Place your phone on silent mode

During: Shake hands firmly, be calm and confident, smile

After: Thank the interviewer for their time

Questions you will be asked and how to make the most of them

Why do you want to intern with us?

Do your research before the interview. Show them you know what the company is about and how you fit in.

What skills can you offer us?

Tell them what you can do and hint at what you might have trouble with. The point is to be humble, but don’t sell yourself short, either.

What do you wish to take away from the internship?

Whether you want the internship to build on your skills or to try your hand at something new, be honest. Know what you want and tell them — it shows that you’re going into the internship with a goal in mind.

Where do you see yourself working after college?

Don’t be afraid to talk big here. Tell them about your plans to be a division manager/section editor/news anchor. You may be applying to be an intern, but employers want passionate people – doors, whether you know it or not, are opening in your future.