Finished school, university, college or any other type of training?

Now’s your time to look for opportunities. Unless you were a top student and appeared in media, or have a network of established contacts, no one’s going to come looking for you! 

But that’s okay! Nothing stops you from finding and securing opportunities for yourself. Fortunately, there are lots of different solutions you can try until you end up where you want.

Applying for Jobs and Internships

Apply for jobs but don’t miss out on Internship opportunities. An internship provides immediate job training and grooms you for further career development by exposing you to a real workplace environment. In this way you can test if a career in that field or organisation is actually what you want. The employer is usually under no obligation to hire you at the end of the program and neither are you committed to staying.

Internships are effective ways of winning trust and asking colleagues to recommend you for jobs either at the same company or elsewhere.

Get an Internship & Get Experience

It’s a struggle to find work, especially if you have no experience. If you haven’t been able to land a job because of a lack of experience, look out for internship adverts. An internship will allow you to get workplace experience, start building a network and increase your opportunity at getting a job.

The Internship Cover Letter

An internship cover letter isn’t the same as a normal application cover letter.

The internship cover letter should highlight what you want to do, and not what you’ve done. If you have earlier work experiece or extracurriculars that are relevant, you should mention them.

Use and adapt these guidelines to suit your application.

Typical Structure of an Internship Cover Letter

• Your name, email address and phone number at the top of the page, on the right or in the center

• The name of the business and the contact person’s full name on the left

• A reference line (e.g., “Re: Internship Application for Administration Assistant position”)

• An address to the reader directly (e.g., “Dear Mr. Nana” – try to avoid using “To whom it may concern” if you can)

• An opening statement that briefly introduces you to the reader

• Next, give background information about yourself
  • Explain what you’re currently studying or have completed
  • Describe your career goals in that particular field.

• Research the company and explain why you want to be there
  • Explain how an internship with that particular company can help you reach your goals.
  • State that you want to work and learn from the company through an internship opportunity

• Next, highlight qualities and characteristics you have that are relevant to the job 
  • you can showcase your previous work experience as well as your extracurricular activities and volunteer work.

• A closing paragraph asking to arrange an interview
  • Close your internship cover letter by providing your contact information in addition to .

Internship Cover Letter Sample

555 A Street Spaza Town, Limpopo 95616

njabulo007@gmail.com   Cell: (084) 867-XXXX

November 10, 2016

Human Resources Department – Internship Program National Public Radio

123 Government Street Pretoria, 2030

Dear Internship Coordinator,

Internship Application: Public Relations

I am very interested in the internship with the Communications/Public and Media Relations Department during July 2016. I am in my first year at the University of Johannesburg, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in African Studies with a minor in Communication. My research experience has sparked my interest in the way that media is delivered through marketing and advertising. I believe in the mission of National Public Radio and would be excited to be an intern with your organization.

I spend a lot of time with a relative who works in television. This has increased my interest in news delivery and how it helps to inform citizens. At high school I was the elected class representative and rose to the challenge of representing their issues. Through these experiences, I learned the value of effective communication through all forms of media.

I am confident that my experiences, skills and strong interests in the goals of NPR have prepared me to be a strong intern for your program. I have attached my CV and look forward to discussing my qualifications with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

N. Pirates

Njabulo Pirates

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