Across any number of industries the internships and work experience offered will vary wildly. With this in mind, the following article is intended as a broad guideline into how to find the information that will help you start your Internship on the best footing possible.

1. Dress code

If you weren’t clear from the interview, calling ahead and checking the dress code of the office is relatively standard. For the time it takes to make a brief phone call and clarify, you can put your own mind at ease and know you’ll be appropriately dressed. As with most things in an Internship you’re not expected to know these things immediately, so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask.

2. Start/End/Lunch

These may seem like tricky topics to address if you’re not sure. However if you weren’t fully informed of these details ahead of your first day you should check to make sure you have all the details correct. Remember not to think of it as “How long do I have to be here for…” and more as you wanting to make sure you’re there on time and meeting all your requirements etc.

3. Sick days/Holidays

The holidays you are entitled to will vary depending on the length of your contract, and for some interns can cause some difficulty or awkwardness in raising. While it wouldn’t be recommendable to address the issue as they’re still showing you around the building it is certainly something that’s reasonable to discuss. Again, approaching it as an understanding of requirements and expectations allows everyone to ensure there is no confusion or difficulty. Sick days will most likely be at the discretion of the company, and will probably depend on the situation.

 The various issues you’ll face during an internship or work experience may well be unique to your organisation or particular situation, however the way in which you approach the issue will usually remain the same. From the outset you can foster a position of honesty and openness by ensuring you communicate with your employers about any issues or questions you may have.

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The next step can be a big decision for graduates, to go in a different direction and try another program, or to wait until the next intake of graduates and reapply.

This is an extremely personal decision and will depend on your specific set of circumstances (everyone’s is different so weigh up your options) to take the right course. This article is intended as a short guide to starting whichever course you choose to take.

Find a new program

Graduate programs are run by a plethora of companies and across most major fields. While you may have missed your “ideal” program, you may well find another one that you would be very happy in. Remember also that you may find a better fit in a company that you had not previously anticipated. Try to keep your mind open as you search, for instance working for (say) a recruitment firm, may not mean being a recruiter, or working for an accountancy firm may not require an aptitude for numbers.

Waiting for the next intake

If you decide to wait for the next intake, however long that is, you can use the time as an opportunity to increase your skills and likelihood you will apply successfully. You may be provided with 3/6/12 months before the next intake, so the onus is on you to use that time wisely and ensure your CV and application is as good as it can be.

Internships

Internships can be a great way to fill out your CV and gain some new skills or hone some existing ones. Finding an internship in a similar field or a position that will provide useful skills can be a great use of your time.

Diploma Courses

Many courses are available now that take place over a drastically reduced schedule. Provided the courses fall within your budget they can be a very useful ways to take a crash course in a skill or area your college course might only have glanced over.

Waiting for the next intake can be a gamble, in that you have no guarantee that you will be successful, however if you have the qualifications necessary and spend a few months improving on those, your chances can be greatly improved. The key to using this time is to make a decision early on (try not to rush, but not to dawdle either) and follow through with a plan.

Whatever you choose…

Whether you choose to choose a different program, or wait for the next intake (or quite possibly a combination of the two) the key to your next stage is making the decision.

The most effective use of your time is to make a plan and stick to it. Either find another course of action or educate yourself in preparation for the next round. If you ensure you are constantly doing something positive for your career (even if it’s only a small step) you will be constantly increasing your chances of successful application.

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