After graduating in 2012 with an Upper Second Class BA Hons
in Journalism, I had absolutely no clue as to what I wanted to do as a career.
After deciding to stay in the City I graduated in, I started
to look for any sort of job to pay the rent. This proved to be extremely
difficult and after weeks of searching and applying for 100’s of vacancies, I
ended up with a cleaning job. Yes, cleaning.
As I donned my rubber gloves at 5am, I started thinking what
the HELL was going on? I had just graduated! As far as I was aware, I did not
need a degree to clean toilets.
After a few weeks of cleaning with my fellow cleaning team
and a bit of banter with one of the security guards, I moved on to bigger and
better things (or so I had thought).
After a handful of horrendous jobs and obscene experiences
as a full time worker, I was lucky enough to secure myself a 12 month paid internship
at the University I studied at.
The internship I applied for was not in a field I
necessarily wanted to pursue, nor was it extremely well paid. I applied for the
role because I had heard great things from a few friends and nothing could be
worse than the role I was currently in.
Applying for the internship was the best decision I have
made in my short (but eye opening) career. From day one it’s
been a continuous learning curve and has been a fantastic opportunity to work
in a different environment.
As I reach the end of my placement and reflect over the last
8 months, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share with you my tips
on life after Graduating and how to make the most out of your internship.
So, here we go.
Throughout your degree make sure you:
1.
Gain work experience
This is so important. Work experience is crucial nowadays; don’t forget
your competing against thousands of other graduates who want the same job as
you. You need to stand out from the crowd and what better way than proving you’ve
done more than sit around and play beer pong for the last three years.
2.
Use your University Careers Service
I’m not just saying this because I
currently work in Careers. The number of third years and graduates I see who
say they’ve sent their CV to countless companies but haven’t heard anything
back. Want to know why? Because it’s rubbish. It’s horrendous. So bad that I
wouldn’t even use it as a bad example. Don’t leave it to the last minute, be
prepared and get some help, it’s free!
3.
Explore your options
This doesn’t necessarily mean deciding exactly what you want
to do, most people still don’t know years after graduating. My mum said she
didn’t know what she wanted to do until she was in her late 30’s, you’ve got
plenty of time to decide. The beauty of further education is that you can
attend at any time and any age, so if in a few years time you decide you want
to be an Architect, you can go back to study (YAY 7 years!).
What I mean is, explore different routes. What are you
interested in? What are your hobbies? Have you looked into jobs that
incorporate these? If not… Get on it! If you’re interested in animals you could
land your dream job as a Zoo keeper. The world is your oyster and it’s there to explore.
Internship Do’s and Don’t’s
Do
Be polite and enthusiastic (stating the obvious here) the
more enthusiastic you are, the more you will gain out of your work experience.
Some internships lead to permanent positions, so don’t just think you can sit
on Facebook all day and expect to be hired at the end of your internship. You
need to prove your worth.
Be willing to learn and take on work – This doesn’t mean
take on everything someone throws at you, if it’s not been approved by your
Manager, make sure they are aware you’re doing it. You may be an intern but you’re
not a general dogs body.
Network – Internships are a great way to network and meet
people you wouldn’t usually get the chance to. If your workplace hosts
networking events, go along! You never know who you might meet and what doors
may open for you.
Keep an eye out for future opportunities within the company,
make sure you express your interest as soon as positions arise.
Don’t
Don’t be lazy and not complete your work properly. Your work
is important to the company, otherwise you wouldn’t be there. Demonstrate your
ability and go the extra mile to achieve top results, nobody likes a slacker.
Turn up late (another obvious here), your manager may not be
in the office when you get in, but I can guarantee they’ll hear about it. You’re
an adult and capable of setting an alarm. Being late for work is a big No No.
Don't just make yourself a drink, offer everyone in your team one
too. It may be a chore making 6 cups of tea and coffee in various different
ways, but its office etiquette!
If you have any tips on how to boss an internship, let me know!