Tips for students going on attachment or internships

Often, during our first two semesters at university, we find ourselves uncertain about what lies ahead. Suddenly, we hear the news: it’s time for attachment (internship), and we don’t really know where to start. Meanwhile, other students who have completed their attachments seem to have everything figured out. There’s excitement, but also confusion about the necessary steps to take to get there.

One thing is for sure: no one ever really tells you the truth about how vital it is to take your first two years seriously. If you don’t strategise during these initial semesters, you risk not being able to proceed to your attachment due to poor grades. Even if you don’t fail, going to your attachment and making the most of it can be challenging if you didn’t take those early semesters seriously.

Thus, it’s crucial to understand that during your first two years at university, you must prioritise your studies and relationships. Make the most of this time to ensure that you can meet the standards required for your attachment later on. This means you should engage in thorough self-assessment: identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on improvement. It’s also beneficial to connect with lecturers and ask them about the attachment process. If you can befriend someone who has already gone through attachment, that’s fantastic! They can share valuable insights about the steps they took and how their experiences were.

Find out from your lecturers what companies you should apply to. Remember, the purpose of an attachment is to learn on-the-job skills. You should have someone who can mentor you through this challenging process, as it can be overwhelming to navigate alone.

Here are some things to keep in mind: 

1. Research the companies you want to apply to as well as those you prefer to avoid for various reasons.
2. Apply to all the companies on your list, including those you might not be particularly excited about. When seeking attachments, being picky is not realistic; you need to be open to any opportunity that allows you to learn.
3. Apply to organisations aligned to your career goal for example, you can study Journalism with your sights set on the advertising industry, so you should know all the ad agencies in Zimbabwe and follow them on social media. Attachment in a newsroom, will not help you in your pursuit of a career in advertising.

What if you land an attachment at a company you weren’t keen on? You have to accept it, this is all part of the learning experience. Expect that interviews can be unpredictable in their outcomes, and ensure you present yourself well. Dress appropriately for all interviews, whether they are online or in person. For online interviews, maintain a professional appearance, and for physical interviews, make sure you look presentable from head to toe. 

Don’t assume interviews will be brief; some can take an entire day. I experienced one such interview that I wasn’t prepared for, but it turned out well. It was a group interview, and it tested candidates from all aspects. This format allowed me to see the company culture and understand the characteristics of my potential future colleagues.

Remain resilient throughout the interview process; it can be challenging, and you might feel like you didn’t succeed. However, it’s essential to recognise that you can still learn and grow from every experience. Stay informed and rely on the knowledge you’ve gained through your research.

Things you should have during your internship searching period:

• Attachment Application letter from your school (Get it scanned and have as many copies as possible)
• Photocopies of your ID (also have it scanned in soft copy form)
• Results/Transcripts, especially for your university period. (create a list of the results and arrange them in order according to whichever order you choose)
• Ordinary and Advanced Level results Transcripts (Photocopy them)
• Curriculum Vitae (Try your best to make it look very cool and professional, be honest)
• Envelopes 

NB: Confirm that your contact details are correct.

The attachment dreams are made of is a paid internship, with relevant on-the-job experience, and a permanent position after you graduate. Sometimes your dissertation topic can stem from your attachment. So keep that in mind during your internship applications. Regardless of where you end up, make the most of that experience, make a good impression, network and always do your best with all the tasks assigned to you. Make every experience an educational one.