Professor:
Thanks for coming in today to discuss your internship experience.
Professor:
Completing some sort of work experience, like an internship, is a core part of our master's program, and we want to make sure students are able to make the most of it.
Professor:
So, as I understand, you were offered an internship by Gregory Associates.
Professor:
Is that correct?
Diana:
Actually, I got offers from a few companies, but Gregory Associates was the only one I seriously considered.
Professor:
Was there any reason for that?
Diana:
Yeah, they didn't offer the best conditions.
Diana:
Some of the other companies were offering to cover transportation and other living costs, that kind of thing.
Diana:
But I knew Gregory Associates was a widely recognized leader in the industry, and that was the big factor for me.
Professor:
And were you happy with your choice?
Professor:
Mixed feelings?
Diana:
Yeah, I mean, don't get me wrong.
Diana:
Everyone in the office was great.
Diana:
They didn't talk down to me, and they were always happy to assist if I wasn't sure about something.
Professor:
Was it the work, then?
Professor:
Some students do find internships a little tedious and boring.
Diana:
It's not that it was boring.
Diana:
I was doing new things every day, and I loved that.
Diana:
They really kept me on my toes.
Diana:
It's just that I'm studying economics, you know?
Diana:
But most of the projects I was assigned to involved more administrative stuff.
Diana:
It just wasn't relevant to what I've been studying.
Professor:
I'm sorry to hear that.
Professor:
I'll make a note of it.
Professor:
Let's talk about the good things.
Professor:
What did you particularly enjoy about the experience?
Diana:
Well, as an intern, the managers do tend to keep you at arm's length.
Diana:
They just don't trust you enough to let you take on a lot of responsibility for the big projects.
Professor:
That's understandable.
Diana:
Yes, but in a way, I liked that, because I got to stand back and watch and get a real sense of how a company like that runs on a day-to-day basis.
Diana:
And that was the highlight for me.
Professor:
That's great to hear.
Professor:
How did you find managing the internship alongside your study commitments?
Diana:
Well, because my internship was over the summer break, that wasn't an issue for me at all.
Professor:
What would you say was the biggest struggle, then?
Diana:
In the beginning, I might have said the hours.
Diana:
Those 6 a.m. starts were tough.
Diana:
But I quickly got used to that.
Diana:
In retrospect, the biggest difficulty was getting by on such a tight budget.
Diana:
As I wasn't earning anything, the whole experience really drained my savings account.
Professor:
Yeah, that can be tough.
Professor:
And my last question.
Professor:
What was the outcome of this internship for you?
Professor:
Some of our students are lucky enough to get offers of employment before finishing.
Diana:
At first, I was hoping I would be one of them.
Diana:
In the end, I wasn't.
Diana:
But I'm happy about that now.
Diana:
Well, over the course of the internship, I ended up reconsidering whether this industry is really for me after all.
Diana:
I'm going to finish my degree, because I'm only a semester away from graduation now.
Diana:
But then after that, I've decided to pursue a different line of work.
Professor:
Well, I do hope you're successful with that.
Professor:
Now, we're putting together a step-by-step guide about the process for students who want to apply for internships.
Professor:
And we were wondering if you could help us with it.
Professor:
What would you say is the first step?
Diana:
Before they do anything else, students need to get their documents sorted.
Diana:
Companies need to see all sorts of things, such as reference letters and verified copies of academic transcripts.
Diana:
It can take time to get it all together, so applicants need to get on to this as soon as possible.
Professor:
We'll put that down as number one.
Professor:
And then students should begin researching companies?
Diana:
They should look at a wide range of companies and the internships they offer.
Diana:
They really shouldn't limit themselves at that stage.
Professor:
It would be time-consuming to apply to them all, though.
Diana:
Yeah, so I think they need to weed out those positions they are not qualified for, or that don't meet their own needs and interests, and then put together a short list consisting only of those positions that are a good match.
Diana:
Well, the next part is the applications, of course.
Diana:
I think the big mistake here is that some students just send the same cover letter and the same CV to each company, when in reality, every position is a little bit different.
Diana:
They really need to alter their applications so that they refer to the individual needs of each position.
Professor:
I'll make a note of that.
Professor:
And should students follow up on their applications?
Diana:
It's best to call each company.
Diana:
An email is too easy to ignore or delete.
Diana:
And not too soon, either.
Diana:
A week after the applications have been submitted is probably ideal.
Professor:
So if they get an interview, what's next?
Diana:
Obviously, they need to prepare.
Diana:
For me, this included all sorts of things, like practicing my body language in front of the mirror and researching common interview questions online.
Professor:
Any tips for the interview itself?
Diana:
Most students are so obsessed with having the right answers, but I think the most important thing is actually to ask questions.
Diana:
It shows the employer that you are genuinely interested in their company and in the position.
Professor:
That's really helpful advice.
Professor:
Thanks for coming by today.
