Preparing for an Internship
The beginning of the year is when most internship positions are published (sometimes as “summer jobs”). Finding an internship is an important, yet difficult, part of your studies. The university offers guidance and support in preparing your application documents, but you are expected to actively search for opportunities that match your field of study, interests, and career goals. This means researching organisations in your field, identifying employers you are interested in, and contacting them directly to ask about internship opportunities.
Once you have identified suitable organisations, preparation becomes essential. Your CV and motivation letter should clearly connect your studies and skills to the internship you are applying for. Applications should be tailored rather than generic. Remember that the CV should tell what you’ve done (context), and the motivation letter explain why you are interested in this role and this organization (motivation).
Internship subsidy
As a university student you should aim for paid internships whenever possible. Paid internships recognise the value of your work and provide better protection. If an employer cannot fully cover the salary, the university offers a subsidy under certain conditions related to tasks, supervision and compensation.
By filling in the Internship Commitment form after securing an internship you provide the university valuable information regarding how many of our students manage to find suitable internships. The form is mandatory if you use the university’s internship subsidy.
The Internship Commitment process in short:
- You initiate the Internship Commitment form via the UTU intranet.
- Your internship employer adds their details on the job to the form.
- The form is signed electronically by the faculty, you (student), and your employer.
- Please note that you also need to do a regular fixed-term employment contract with your employer.
Finally
There is no single place where all internships are listed. JobTeaser is a useful starting point, as many organisations advertise internships there. However, advertised positions represent only part of what is available. Taking initiative is a key part of the process and an important working-life skill in itself. Employers value students who show motivation and responsibility for their own career development.