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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work for an organisation whose main objective is to further a social cause or advocate an idea, rather than increase profits?

To kick-start something requires and action, and action means taking the next step, signing up, making it happen. Not just thinking about it but doing it. 
An internship is the perfect way to kick-start your career, with proven benefits…
 

In an era where data and information are critical assets for decision-making, Knowledge Management (KM) has become an important practice as a way to maximise the intellectual capital among different areas of an organisation.

It’s your first day of your internship or “real” job, in a real office. You don’t have to wear a uniform or a name tag, this is serious. You’ve been given real work to do.

Throughout our lives, we invest money in many things including clothing, food, transport, property and excellent coffee (hard to avoid if you are from Melbourne) – but do we invest enough in our career/professional development?

Interns can offer more to a workplace than just another set of hands. They can bring new perspectives, ideas and ways of looking at a business that may never have been considered.

Have you ever eavesdropped on a cafe conversation involving work mates from an industry you’re unfamiliar with? If you’re looking for a job or an internship, knowing your industry’s buzzwords and new trends will make you look smart, and knowing what those words actually mean will make you look even smarter.

Would you bid over $40,000 USD for an internship opportunity with the leader of the free world? The Trump Organisation is offering a ten-week internship opportunity, the role given to the highest bidder.

If you’re looking for an internship, chances are you might be focusing on joining large and established organizations, as you’ve been told that they’d be the best stepping stone for your future. Well… You might want to broaden your search to start-ups, especially when you’re first making your entrance into the workforce.

So, you have been invited to an interview - congratulations!  No doubt you’ve spent hours fine-tuning your resume, studying those job boards, working your networks, and crafting cover letter after cover letter just to get to this point. Now you have scored that interview it’s time for more preparation to kick in – preparation to ensure you put your best foot forward and impress at your interview.

During our time in the internship space, we have had the opportunity to provide thousands of Graduates with valuable Work Experience. Across a range of industries we have connected Host Companies with candidates, who have had the chance to grow and learn beyond what they thought they were capable of.

For an eager, hard-working student, a professional internship with a host company provides insight to an industry and allows them to experience day-to-day activities in a workplace. Not only do student’s benefit from a professional internship, but employers who take a genuine interest in hosting at intern can gain some real benefits too!

To be successful and focused on your future career, setting personal and professional goals is a great way to work towards your achievement. But, how can you determine what your goals are for them to actually be attainable?

I often get asked “When is the perfect time for me to undertake an internship?” The truth is, no time is the right time. There is however a wrong time – NEVER! One of the biggest mistakes students and graduate make is delaying the inevitable. It is known that companies actively seek out students and graduates who they find to be the most employable. Who are these students and graduates?

Recently, I have had the privilege to interview an IT Manager at one of our Hosts Companies. When asked to rate the top qualities employers seek when hiring an intern, it was surprising to see how technical skills did not even make it to the top 3!  Though it is important to showcase technical skills in an interview, the interviewer told me that demonstrating excellent transferable skills are far more valuable.

As an internship provider, our consultants are constantly managing student expectations and the professionalism students need to display at interviews as well as during the internship. But sometimes students forget what not to do in their internship.

An internship can mean many things to a student. It can vary from bridging a Degree and a Career, to utilising the experience to complete said degree in the first place. On the contrary, a host company can be seeking out an internship opportunity for a range of reasons, from giving back to their industry, to getting assistance in upcoming projects, or even looking for their next rock-star employee.

As we battle our way through yet another spine-shivering winter week, day dreams of end-of-exam celebrations, lazy beach days, and warm hazy summer evenings persistently creep into our minds. Bliss!