Internship

With thousands of people graduating from universities, colleges and other educational institution, without solid work experience, you may find yourself in a catch 22 situation: no one wants to hire you without experience but how do you get the experience if no one wants to hire you?

Working as an intern will often give you a great advantage of experiencing the real world and being able to include it on your CV.

Our company has been offering international work placements in Melbourne, Australia, for the past 2 years and we since have hosted interns from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, China, France, Lebanon and Poland.

It's a great way for us to learn about the new generation of professional linguists and contribute to the translating and interpreting industry by letting some new blood in.

I receive dozens of new applications per month and including people in our well structured internship program has become a privilege. We give people real work, with real clients but of course we do a lot of hand holding before we allow our interns to spread their wings.

Most interns start by assisting our Multimedia Projects Officer or Business Development Coordinator in managing projects, checking of translations, collating databases or answering the phone.

We take our interns to court to watch our interpreters at work, we also get them to review previous translations, collate glossaries and format translations. In other words, our interns do get exposed to how a translation bureau works, a rare opportunity indeed!

Given the advantages and the interest our internship program attracts, I thought I'd share with you some dos and don'ts on how to go about applying for internship.

I have seen some shocking applications in my time, and whilst I always respond to prospective interns' inquiries, it would be very hard for me to be convinced to take them on.

We are one of the few companies in Australia that take intern applications seriously but I sometimes doubt that the interns take us seriously!

So here go the tips:

1. Email the translation company finding out who is in charge of recruiting. Emailing your application to the general email will rarely be met with interest, as it is usually checked by a non-decision maker, or a person who just can't be bothered.

2. Check the spelling and grammar of your email and don't forget to attach your CV. Don't ever use the SMS shorthand for writing emails. It looks very unprofessional.

3. Do some research on the company in question so that your email doesn't sound generic or disinterested. Explain in your email why you'd want to become an intern for them.

4. Be prepared for the internship to be unpaid: after all the company will invest a lot of money in training and supporting you, and you will get a reference at the end of it. So do make sure you can afford to be an intern for several months, especially if you are going to be based in another country or even continent.

5. Check the company out. Ask about working conditions, location, insurances and working hours. See if you could be put in touch with previous interns who could tell you more not only about the company, but local attractions, accommodation and customs.

6. Follow up with a phone call and arrange for a telephone interview. It is important that you clarify any issues of concerns before you commit yourself to the internship. Ask the company about the internship program: they should be able to email you a questionnaire or a work plan, to help you in making sure you are making the right decision.

7. Check whether your training institution will endorse the internship and if so, how will they liaise with your employer. Do they have any specific requirements?

8. Follow up with an email thanking the company for their time and keep in touch regularly. Ask about a duty statement, internship plan or position description. Who will you be reporting to? How often? What happens in case of problems?

Best of luck with your internships and don't forget to contact me if you have any questions!

With over 15 years experience in the language sector, Eva is a sought-after linguist, researcher, consultant and trainer. In addition to her native Polish, Eva speaks French, Russian, Turkish and Hindi. She's the owner of Polaron Language Services, http://www.polaron.com.au.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Hussain

Labels: company internship, get an internship, translation internship

Do you know what it really takes to get into the highly competitive world of dietetic internships? Currently, only 54% of dietetic students gain acceptance. If you want to have the best chance at being accepted then you'll need to follow these 7 keys for success.

1. Gain the proper experience. There is nothing better than having plenty of nutrition related experience on your dietetic resume.

Show your initiative and find volunteer positions in different areas of practice and then latch on to a good job working for a dietitian. Having these credentials on your application will surely get you noticed.

2. Understand what the dietetic committees are looking for. Dietetic internship directors are looking for candidates who are well rounded, show leadership skills and have a little something extra that sets them apart from their peers. Knowing the criteria will give you an edge over your competition.

3. Maintain good grades. Have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to be among the ranks of dietetic interns. Being a good student, especially when it comes to your nutrition classes will make you a more sought after applicant.

4. Learn to write an excellent professional letter. Without a well thought out professional letter you won't stand out against other students who can verbalize their skills and experiences. Take a writing class or find a friend or peer who can help you to write a top notch application letter.

5. Get 3 glowing letters of reference. Including three average letters of reference in your application packet will not be enough to enter internship-land. They must reflect your knowledge, your experiences and your verve.

Can you find 3 professionals who will be able to provide quality letters regarding your character? If you can, then you have checked an important "box" for getting an internship.

6. Meet your deadlines. Don't delay or take the application process lightly. Get experience early in your sophomore and junior year. Know when the deadlines for computer matching are and be ready to get your applications in the mail on time.

7. Release it to the universe. Once you have mailed your final application packets you will just have to wait and see what happens. Even good candidates don't always receive an internship on their first try. Don't take it personally if you don't receive a match.

Realize that it's the luck of the draw and that you can always re-apply. Get more experience, take some more classes and know that you will see your dreams come to fruition if you continue to pursue them with passion.

Valerie J. Buchanan is the author of GETTING IN, The KEYS to Opening the Door to a Dietetic Internship

Valerie J. Buchanan is the author of the new book for dietetic students Getting In, The Keys to Unlocking the Door to a Dietetic Internship. Learn how to make the most of your college experience so that you can be a qualified internship candidate. View 45% of the book for free or download a complete copy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Buchanan

Labels: 7 keys internship, acceptance internship, strategies internship

Hiring interns isn't just about having extra help with work overload during hard economic times. An internship program is the top method for finding and securing the top talent for your business team.

In a 2000 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 82.5 percent of the respondents currently offer internship and/or co-op programs.

By making the best use of interns during their brief stint, you'll be able to get more return from your recruitment efforts. The company will gain an expanding pool of interns for future job openings, and they'll already be prepped and far ready to dig in.

Plus, a strong internship program can foster positive public relations for the business over time. Here are a few essential steps to help you get started in designing an effective program.

Agree on Internship Objectives

To minimize disappointment for both parties, you should mutually agree on learning objectives for the internship period.

Document the specific objectives in measurable terms, so that there's no misunderstanding on whether it has been achieved at the end. For example, a vague statement such as "the intern will gain a better understanding of marketing and sales" will not suffice.

You should also plan to develop other aspects of the internship program in writing. This may include areas such as your program mission, a list of internship job descriptions, application requirements, compensation, supervisory roles and evaluation forms.

Provide Learning Opportunities

In addition to working in the field, interns should be provided with multiple chances to learn about the company and other vital aspects of the industry.

During the first couple of weeks, schedule some time for your intern to meet with various staff members. This is the perfect way to introduce them to the company, and explore how all of the different departments work together.

When appropriate, tours or informative events in the industry could be helpful. For instance, a guided tour of The New York Times could be helpful for someone interested in publishing. A seminar at a think tank could be great for an economics student.

A visit to a client's facility could be worthwhile for an engineer or computer programmer. It's also important to place interns in a brainstorming meeting or video conference, so they could observe and listen.

Put Sufficient Supervision in Play

The nature of internship work is dependent on training, so sufficient supervision is necessary. Make sure that you're placing the best managers with interns, so that every intern will gain the right amount of guidance and training.

Once the learning objectives are created, the supervisor should be checking in weekly with the intern on project progress. The responsibility of completing these goals will fall on the supervisor. Remind each supervisor to provide honest and constructive feedback throughout the process.

Offer Meaningful Assignments

The days of interns being used as gofers are in the past. This approach becomes a waste of time for HR managers as well as the company.

By making the effort to help interns learn the industry, you'll see that the business is able to accomplish much more in less time.

The projects that are handed to the interns should be challenging and stimulating. They should also provide real experience that will be useful for the intern's chosen career path.

The Center for Competitive Management (CCM) provides you, today's business professional, with the information you need to stay on top of your career.

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Want more information on this topic? http://c4cm.com/hr/interns.htm

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Labels: internship programs, smart internship, use interns internship