Trying to grasp the art of finding an internship

Internships are spoken of in second year far more frequently than in the previous one. Dashboards are filling with colorful pamphlets advertising internships, industry placements and research opportunities for undergraduates promising a great experience and a ‚trophy‘ in a new Linkedin profile entry.

Especially among economics students the competition for good internships soars up, as everyone is eager to improve their human capital and shine in the eyes of their parents, peers and especially of employers.

In many ways the search for a good internship is similar to a race. At the start we have many students studying similar subjects, who have similar grades and in many cases similar interests and goals in life. In order to stand out, we as students are led to apply for internships which could make us more attractive for our future employers. Among students of economics the top internship destinations are investment banks such as Goldman Sachs or Citi bank, consulting companies, governments or MNCs.
 
In order to penetrate these higher circles and get a great internship that could ensure a better career it is not enough to have good grades. Many of my fellow students are active members of several societies and actively organize various events which improve their track record. While respecting the genuine interest many of us have for the societies and projects we take part in, it seems to me that some think that by taking part in a society or creating one would make them look good and with this sole purpose create clubs that are not so different from each other often just for the sake of creating them. This leads to a failed attempt at diversification among students, since in many cases while participating at many conferences and being members of various societies, people realize that their CVs look just as diverse as those of the next person doing the same course, which counters the whole idea of standing out.
 
This is why it is crucial to think the choice of an internship through. Skills one gains through extracurricular activities can facilitate this search, as the knowledge of the workings of an investment bank learned through a Trading society or of Python learned through an online course may be just the important elements of setting someone up for success. At the end of the day I believe it does no good to force a hobby on someone just for the sake of an internship. In my humble opinion people get to stand out  the most while doing activities they enjoy.
 
I am convinced that a certain dose of psychological resilience is key to maintain a sane mind while searching for an internship. Many companies have several rounds and call-backs for a limited number of places and waiting several months for deliberation can, at times, prove to be quite traumatizing. It is also helpful for one to realize his/her self worth. It does not pay off to be excessively modest many Czechs are used to. While remaining humble and earnest, it does help if one makes it easier for the company in choosing him/her by effectively pointing out virtues the person could make use of as an intern. Lastly, from my own experience I would like to believe that creativity goes in search for internships a long way. This applies not only in writing motivational letters and trying to stand out, but also in choosing the internship itself. Not all internships are available on the local noticeboard and not all are those one hears about at school. Sometimes the ideal intern position is not even advertised and it might take just a bold yet respectful email to a certain person or company asking for a placement in order to find the perfect one.

 

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