Applying for an internship or placement at Enterprise can feel like a nerve-racking experience, but there’s really no need to be anxious.
Here, current interns Paymon and Maz give you a brief overview of the application process so you know what to expect. They will also pass on a few incredibly handy tips to help you get the most out of the experience, and hopefully help you bag that summer internship or year-long placement you’ve been dreaming about.
Stay positive
First things first, you have to go in with a positive attitude! Waiting for a job interview and seeing all the other people in their fancy suits can look pretty daunting so it’s important to retain a positive attitude. Try picturing yourself being offered the internship and you’ll go into the interview feeling like a boss and nail it. The mind is such a powerful tool if used correctly – so think happy thoughts!
Do your research
So, we’re assuming you’ve read the job description, that the position is relevant to your skill-set and you’re waiting eagerly to apply. Before attending the job interview, we recommend doing some background research on Enterprise to show your enthusiasm during the interview itself. Remember, at Enterprise you are likely to be interviewed twice – first a telephone interview and then a face-to-face interview.
We recommend that you relate your answers to the job description by using relevant experiences that you may have gained from studying at university or from past work experience. Include things like group-work scenarios you had to undertake in your studies, volunteering as well as anything else you think would be worth mentioning. Above all make sure your passion shines through, so the interviewer remembers you!
Be honest (and expect the unexpected)
If something comes up in the interview that you have no experience of, be honest and say so. Honesty always goes down well. Remember too that interviewers sometimes throw you a curve ball – maybe a short, 20 minute test after the Q&A.
The interviewers will make it clear what’s expected of you, and don’t worry about answering every single question; often things like this are designed simply to see how much you know about this or that so if you’re successful, they’ll know where to position you first!
Pick the right role
When it comes to job descriptions and relevant experiences – picking the right role is very important. We’ve all had friends at university who applied for jobs they weren’t really interested in or didn’t care about, just for the sake of getting a job. This is a very risky move and sets you up for potential failure – even if you do get the position. Most of us know how they felt – that you should apply for everything to improve your chances of getting a job. Don’t fall into that trap. Instead, apply for something you enjoy doing and are passionate about, as that will always shine through during your job interview!
Beginnings are important
Your first real work experience is more important than you may think. Your first role really helps to define your potential career path and can give you a massive head start on achieving your goals. So really think about what you want to do before you start applying for a bunch of graduate jobs, because choosing the right one will give you a head start in that field.
But skills are transferable
If you’re not sure what you want to do right now, you should start by applying for those roles you have at least some interest in – who knows, you may end up loving what you do. Even if you don’t, you’ll develop transferable skills that you can take away and use in other roles. This is true for a lot of people when they start out – though it’s not always obvious at the time – and there are plenty of examples of someone starting at Enterprise doing one thing before moving on to something entirely different.
So if uncertainty is holding you back, don’t worry – check out the job opportunities here at Enterprise today and who knows what you may end up doing tomorrow?