fbpx
INDIA: +91 080 41234927 | WHATSAPP: +91 6366 834954
INDIA: +91 080 41234927 | WHATSAPP: +91 6366 834954
It’s April, and many of you have begun or are looking forward to your summer holidays.  You’ve worked hard, and it’s time for a little bit of R&R.  But we at the IKC know that you probably aren’t taking your entire vacation to rest, right?!  You are busy students with exams to study for, summer programs to participate in, and prep courses to take!
One thing that we encourage you to consider filling your free time with during this summer holiday is an internship or volunteer position.  If you haven’t considered this yet, give it a think!  And if you HAVE toyed with the idea, we say “Follow through!”
Here are a few reasons why we think an internship or volunteer position is a good idea:

  1. Explore you career interest!  While interns and volunteers likely won’t be doing large tasks, even the opportunity to be in the environment meeting people and taking a small part in the day-to-day will help give you a chance to get a feel for what working in this field could be like.
  2. Gain hands-on experience!  Not only can an internship or volunteer position help you sort out and confirm your career interests, it also gives you the chance to gain knowledge, skills, and awareness in that field.  This is a plus as you apply to college and other related opportunities.
  3. Professional Development!  Your time interning or volunteering will be a valuable asset not only personally but also professionally.  Giving time out of your summer to intern or volunteer shows initiative, and if you apply yourself you will develop many soft skills along the way!
  4. Letters of Recommendation! By doing an internship or volunteering, you will likely meet some incredible people who think that YOU are incredible, too.  As you begin to apply for universities and scholarships, you may be asked to submit letters of recommendation.  Having a letter from a personal reference or former supervisor in addition to your academic references will help provide a holistic perspective!
  5. Networking!  Chances are, during the course of your internship or volunteering position you will meet people who know people who know people.  In today’s world, it is all about who you know!  Make the most of this opportunity: find mentors, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to attend events and ask questions!  The connections you make now may be helpful for finding jobs and learning opportunities later on.
  6. Finally, universities are keen to see who you are OUTSIDE of school.  If you have an internship or volunteer position on your application, it shows them a little bit more about who you are, where your interests lie, and how you apply your skills.  It can also give you a great topic to write your college essay about!

Leave a Reply