Getting your first internship is the quite the deal in every teenager’s life these days. Whether you are in school, college, homeschooling, unschooling – there is no escape from adults asking you to get good industry exposure in different fields. Well, there is a reason why so many career counsellors and mentors also insist on teen internships. Your first internship can teach you much beyond any book or academic curriculum. But the big question is –
How to get your first internship without any work experience?
This is always a huge doubt for parents & teens as to who will offer an internship in the first place. While there is no end to tips and gyan from adults on this topic, how about a teenager sharing 3 simple and practical insights that helped land her first internship!
Aparna (13 years) recently finished a 3-month internship in mud constructions or natural building. We did a live with her on Instagram where she spoke about her journey to get her first internship. Watch the video or scroll below to quickly read on Aparna’s top 3 tips.
If you are feeling very confused about your career and interests, we suggest starting with this reflective, self assessment quiz for teens to help you get some clarity on your professional journey.
3 Practical Tips from Aparna
1. Make Rejections work for you
This is your biggest fear, so get it out of the way immediately. Be ready for rejections. Once you are mentally prepared then you approach and talk to people with a lot of comfort and ease. You are also ready to move on quickly and keep meeting new people.
I faced 20 rejections before I landed my first Internship!
Once you are ready to face rejections, the next step is to make it work for you –
- Ask people the reason you were not selected. This will help you understand what the industry is looking for.
- Sometimes there may be no need for an intern. In such cases, no harm in asking them to share a reference. Expanding your network in a way!
- Despite a rejection, you have entered their mind space and they know someone like you exists in this field. So, celebrate!
2. Let your Portfolio do the talking
Your portfolio can greatly compensate for the lack of work experience. In fact, it can speak volumes about your capabilities and soft skills. Don’t limit yourselves with a boring resume or CV. Your portfolio should showcase, in depth your previous projects (even if not related to this domain), existing skillset, your learning curve and personal attitude.
Portfolio is like a slice from the cake of your Life! One bite should reveal the essence of your entire personality.
3. dont fake anything. honesty pays.
Employers are quite realistic and they don’t expect technical expertise from new interns. So, don’t unnecessarily make big claims about yourself. Be authentic as employers prefer individuals who are willing to learn. A realistic portfolio is the first demonstration that you are a keen learner.
I don’t know anything in this field. But I am a quick learner.
I told this to every employer in every interview.
Think beyond Internships
If you are not able to get an internship, it is not the end of the world. There are many opportunities to increase your industry exposure. And all these options are as important as an internship, so go ahead and read this article –
Why Should Teens Look Beyond Internship For Industry Exposure?
Still not very confident to make a move for your first internship then read this article to get you started on power packed networking –
Top 5 professional networking tips from a teenager
Having a tough time with too many rejections, Srijani (17 years) has something to share –