When spring timidly showed up again this year, I remembered that last year, it had resurfaced, bringing with it the stress and anxiety of finding an internship. Thus was to conclude the Attestation of College Studies (AEC) Interactive Media Production program at Cégep Limoilou.
Although it was not my first internship ever, the fact that it was my very first foray into the field of programming put a little (if not a lot) of pressure on me. How to make the right choice? What attitude should I adopt? If I had access to a space-time breach,
I would send this text inspired by my experience and that of my colleague Olivier , to my past self, but in the meantime, I am sharing it here in the hope of giving a helping hand to the interns of the present and the future.
The choice
The broadcasting program I completed several years ago also had only one final internship. The radio industry being what it was, it was not advisable to launch into the big markets right out of school at the risk of getting burned.
Students therefore often went to do their internships in smaller stations where it was possible to learn the ropes without collapsing under the pressure. So I had to fight this fear that was deeply rooted in me when the time came to make my choice, last year.
I finally swallowed my pride and sent my CV here, to Spektrum, even if the reputation for excellence that surrounded the agency intimidated the list of albania cell phone numbers novice developer that I was. After all, as Olivier so aptly points out: “when you are an intern, you can aim high. Put your name in places that are harder to access, that don’t hire frequently. It’s time to try this kind of thing.”
The worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work.
Aside from the fear back to waq and web2day of failure, another argument that can tip the scales is the search for stability. As part of his DEC in computer science,
Olivier had two internships to complete. At the time, the options he was hesitating between were completely opposite, either a small startup with two employees or a large, well-known and established cooperative financial group. In the end, he chose the latter for the advantageous conditions offered and, above all, for the long-term job security.
It was the kind of place where he could “go home and end his days”. Today, looking back, he admits to feeling a little regret at the idea of not having listened to his gut , especially knowing now that he is more suited to a company in which he can have more leadership and take more initiative.
When it comes to choosing an internship, it is important to consider our level and be realistic, but we must not let fear and insecurity deprive us of great opportunities. That is why if our program has more than one, Olivier even suggests going first towards the option we are least convinced about.
The attitude
Personally, if there is one thing I would do differently, it is to be less afraid to ask questions. As mentioned in this very relevant article from the Université Laval Student Help Centre, you have to have confidence in your abilities, which implies “acting, despite doubts, and seeking the necessary resources to move forward”. Let’s not forget that being an intern is a learning environment.
It is good to take the plunge and learn from what has worked less well. A concept that Olivier sums up well when he advises to “ask questions when you are accepted, but to try hard to get by first”.
The article mentioned above also conduit china offers a model of the evolution towards professional expertise composed of five detailed profiles ranging from “novice” to “expert”.
Determining where one is in this process allows one to “set more realistic expectations” of oneself.
With his DEC, his two internships and his many years of interest in computer science, his profile should have corresponded more to that of the “performer” or “expert” when he started. Result: he had the background and legitimacy to propose new strategies to the team and even, in some cases, to bring know-how that was lacking.
via GIPHY
Otherwise, from a more human point of view, the internship remains a way to start building your network of contacts. What comes up a lot in articles and testimonials on the subject is the importance of integration.
So, even if the internship does not necessarily translate into success and/or hiring, it can obviously be more than beneficial to still leave a good impression.
I’ll allow myself to conclude on a somewhat psychopop note. I believe that the key to an informed choice of internship is self-knowledge. It is necessary to clearly identify your level, your fears, your aspirations and your expectations in order to find the right shoe for you.
Thus, once you’ve started, it is less scary to get out of your comfort zone and, above all, to trust yourself. Otherwise, don’t forget that you are not the first or the last to go down this path: so don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as possible to those who have already taken it. This often allows you to defuse many worries and to start your journey with a few more tips and tricks in your pocket.