How do you choose your placement?

An internship is a sure-fire way to learn, as it exposes you to the realities of the professional world. It forces you to put the knowledge you have acquired into practice, as part of your course. How do you choose the right placement? That’s what we cover in this article.

Contents

In a nutshell:

Internships are often compulsory in higher education establishments.
You can take the initiative and do an internship to gain new skills.
Doing an internship gives you real-life experience and more work experience.
Choosing the right internship is crucial to shaping your career.

Choice

How do you choose your placement?

An internship is bound to be a learning experience in one way or another. However, it will greatly influence the direction of your career, especially if it is your first professional experience. That’s one of the main reasons why it’s essential to choose your internship carefully. To do this, follow these tips:

Always start by defining the activities that interest you most and make sure you choose a work placement that relates to them.
Identify the area in which you would like to improve, whether or not it is directly related to the course you are taking.
Project yourself into the future with the job you want to do and choose your work placement according to your career goals.
Consider the location, establishment and even the country in which you plan to do your placement.
If you are still in training, take into account the duration of the course so that it does not overlap with your training.

How do I apply for a work placement?

Just as it’s important to look after your job application, try to do the same when applying for a work placement. It’s one of the best ways of learning, while gradually integrating the professional world. So make sure you have a profile that interests the establishment you are applying to, to maximise your chances of being accepted.

To maximise your chances of success, follow these steps:

do your research carefully beforehand, in terms of the area of the placement, the location, the host establishment, the prerequisites and the conditions ;
Draw up a clear, easy-to-read Curriculum Vitae in which you highlight the part of your course that is relevant to the internship you are applying for, as well as your strengths;
write a covering letter in which you mention your interest in a particular field related to the placement you want. You should also try to be subtle in convincing the establishment you want to join by explaining why you should be taken on;
make sure you choose the right time to apply. The best time to apply is at the beginning of your university year, when you are most available;
Opt for unsolicited applications when you are really interested in the establishment and the placement on offer. Submit them in person to the school in question or by e-mail, depending on the instructions and/or your preferences.

Oral

Job interview for an internship: how do you prepare?

Choosing the right internship is one thing, but preparing well for your job interview is another, and a crucial step. To increase your chances of being accepted, make sure you prepare well in advance in a number of ways.

Among other things, practise speaking confidently without appearing arrogant. Take care with your body language and the way you dress so as to capture the attention of your interviewer without embarrassing him or her. When you go for your work placement interview, choose your words carefully. Make sure your sentences are clear and precise. Illustrate them with anecdotes if necessary.

Offer

Is it possible to do work placements while studying at INSEEC?

AtINSEEC, we give you the opportunity to do an internship during your training. Internships are one of the pillars of our school’s pedagogy. Our aim is to help our students put into practice what they have learned.

When you do an internship at INSEEC, you retain your student status and are at the same time registered in the host company’s personnel register. We also support you during the internship search process.

For further information, please consult our FAQ and our dedicated page: Internships – INSEEC