Tips To Get that Bursary Or Internship

How important is it really for students to do an internship before applying for a job?

I have found that many universities including those in Namibia, require students to complete a certain number of hours of internship in order to graduate. An internship enables students to have first-hand experience in their chosen fields, in order to apply theoretical knowledge from school in practical work situations.

Students can acquire endless amounts of education in their lives, however, that knowledge doesn’t always translate in their working life.

Internships and volunteer experiences make candidates more competitive in the job market. In addition to gaining exposure and experience in the field, they also provide an opportunity for students to see if the particular career field is the right one based on their experience in that field.

Sanlam recently handed over six bursaries and nine internships to students from the three universities in the country. As an HR consultant and the person heading up these projects, I noticed that many students, despite meeting the requirements, made simple mistakes which in many instances caused them to miss the opportunity of getting a bursary or internship.

Here are ten tips on how to apply for an internship or bursary.

1. Read the requirements and make sure you meet them before submitting your application. If not clearly stated, call the company to find out.

2. After reading and understanding the requirements, make a checklist for yourself. This will help you tick things off and ensure you submit everything required by the company.

3. With every call for internships or bursaries, there are instructions for students to follow. These often relate to submission of the application. It is vital to follow these instructions as failure to do so might result in your application not being considered.

4. Attach all the required documents such as your CV, cover letter, ID or student card, proof of registration, and academic records.

5. If you know you are looking for an internship or bursary, have your documents ready. Most companies advertise bursaries at either the end or the beginning of the year. Get certified copies of all relevant documents so that when you see an opportunity you’re interested in, it is simply a matter of making small changes and sending your application through.

6. Many students are desperate for an opportunity for a bursary or internship and rightfully so. It is very easy to get caught up with excitement. Rather take your time and make sure you submit your application correctly rather than quickly.

7. While it is important to take your time with the application process, it is equally important to submit on time. Waiting until the last minute can result in you making a lot of mistakes and your application will simply not be considered.

8. Check that your email has gone through. I cannot stress this enough, we have had students call us after the closing date to ask about their application when these were never received. If the email doesn’t go through, call the company to inform them or request an alternative email address.

9. Once you have submitted your application, it is wise to follow up with either a phone call or email to find out the status of your application.

10. Be reachable. Institutions will try several times to reach you on the contact details provided but it is your responsibility to ensure people who need to reach you can do so.

Remember that you are competing against other students and the numbers are high, take your application seriously, and do your best to set yourself above the rest. If you are unsure you can always contact the HR office for clarity, we are there to support you.

Sanlam awards internships twice a year, so students who did not make it can always apply again during the next round which will be advertised in June in the press and on all our social media platforms. The next call for bursaries will be in November 2020.

Selma Shilunga is a human resource consultant at Sanlam

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