The Clichéd ‘What I Learned From My Internship’ Post

It started off as an innocent call from one of my mom’s oldest friends. 

Let me stage the scene for you, dear reader. 

It was around ten in the night. I was deeply immersed in my studies, cramming for the exam the very next day. My mom was lying on the 2004-era sofa and chatting with her old friend. 

Then suddenly, my mom spoke to me, breaking me out of my reverie, “There’s a website called Internshala where you get to apply for internships during the summer.” 

“Oh, I have an account there,” was my reply and I plunged into my books, frantically trying to memorize the gist of the whole chapter. 

“You know, V* Aunty said that doing internships is a good thing for summer.” Mom said, completely used to my last minute jittery behaviour. “You’ll get certificates and work experience – which will help you for better job offers and post-grad options.” 

“That sounds cool,” I noted. “I’ll definitely apply for one this summer.” 

And thus, dear reader, began Archie’s Great Internship Saga, Summer 2016. 

By the second week of March, I had already applied to a bunch of companies, all alone – no help from anybody except for a few pointers from my parents and my uncle. 

Which is suffice to say that I got rejected by multiple companies that I’d applied to, including bigshot ones like Puma and TOI. 

But thankfully, I got into this amazing content writing company which, thank my lucky stars, did not force me to simply file the paperwork and make cutting chai for the employees.

Daily, I had to travel all the way to West Mumbai by Metro, punch my thumb on the machine next to the glass doors, go to my desk and get to work. Each day, I got to do new things and got to be mentored by some incredibly creative individuals. Plus, the office had its own library and all these super artsy, motivational quotes pasted on the walls. 

I mean, how COOL is that? 

So without further ado, allow me to tell you the some of the coolest things I’d learnt from my internship: 

1. Career Related Skills

As I worked for a content management company, I actually got exposed to some vital skills like digital marketing and content writing. 

Initially, I used to think: “Pfft… content writing is writing with a bunch of researched words, right. Blegh, it’s so easy. As for digital marketing? It is just promoting your product online, right? Jeez… this stuff is so, so easy.”

How very wrong I was.

Content writing and digital marketing are two really broad terms and you really need to take a lot of time to master both. 

Content writing means to research, sink your teeth deep into the topic and create your write up in such a way that is both creative and commercially viable. As for digital marketing, it involves tapping into the perspectives of the target consumers and writing something that is sure to make the product sound like the perfect solution for the said consumers!

Even the two months’ work I did as an intern wasn’t enough to know in detail as to what it really entailed! 

But thankfully, I did get to learn a lot and now, I am glad to say that I enjoy marketing. A lot.

2. Work Culture

One of the chief reasons why I decided to take up an internship (like most people) is to get exposed to the work atmosphere. 

Why, you may ask? 

Because unlike school and college, where you are with peers close to your age, in an office you’re supposed to interact with people with varied experiences and different age groups. 

Moreover, you also get exposed to how an organization is run and somehow, that just gets ingrained in your system. 

For instance, the company I worked for was pretty flexible when you thought about the timings and clothes. But when it came to working, they ensured that they made quality content that could be delivered dot on time! 

What I learnt from them was to be a blend of malleability and rigidity – which, I think, is sure to help me cope with the dynamic, ever-changing world out there.

3. Independence

I guess the coolest part about interning at an actual company was the fact that I finally got a shot at being independent – with an offer letter, contract, metro card and stipend. 

It all started with applying to different companies. Apart from a bit of guidance by my family members, I pretty much got to design my resumes and cover letters all my own. 

Then came the actual working process. In my company, unlike anywhere else I’ve been, I was never babied. I was given a task and I had the liberty to do it the way I liked (albeit factoring the company’s guidelines into my final work). 

Plus, travelling alone in the metro with all the working people of Mumbai during peak times somehow added to the thrill of being the Ultimate Urban Independent Chick. 

4. Responsibilities

With great independence, also comes a great sense of responsibility.

I’m glad to say that the company I worked for did not think that I was too unreliable and did dole out a fair share of responsibilities on me. 

And I am happier to say, that despite the plethora of mistakes that I did make and the crazy amount of time I took, I did fulfill them. 

In case you’re under the impression that internships are all about lazing around and doing nothing, then kindly get yourself out of that delusion.

Internships also are about hard work. It’s absolutely unacceptable to just take up a responsibility and evade it later! 

5. Networking

There is an actual difference between ‘networking’ and ‘making BFFs’. 

If you’re under the impression that you’ll make best friends during a proper professional internship, then you’re wrong. 

Like my best friend’s elder sister had said, and I quote, “Don’t expect to do an internship to gain friends.” 

Internships are places where you get to network. This means, you talk to people from varied backgrounds and gain insights about the kind of career you want to choose. This also means, you get to interact with people who mentor you and mould you into a better, more rounded personality.  

Luckily, in my company, I got to know people from different disciplines and let me tell you, I did get to learn a lot from each and every one of them. 

(As an added bonus, I also got to discuss a lot about Harry Potter and GoT with them during break times)

(I still haven't started with the GoT show, dear reader! :P )

***

Aaaaand this is how my desk looked like, on my last day! :) 

All in all, I would say that my internship was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I got mentored by some really talented people and I think (I hope, rather) I’ve developed into a better, more meticulous individual. Yeah, I did make a gigantic amount of mistakes, but what matters ultimately is that I did get to mature by a huge notch. 

Dear reader, I am really sorry for not having updated you with what was going on in my life. For the past three months, things have been really crazy. I’ve been pretty much on my toes and I barely had time for myself.

But now, I’m back, with hopes to entertain you with my neurotic rambling!

Stay awesome as ever,

Much love,

Archie <3