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So, you appeared for the NTAT and have fared well. Congratulations! You have taken a step ahead towards getting your first-hand industry experience. By appearing for an examination of this kind, you’ve not only gained a first-hand exposure in handling work-related situational questions popularly asked during corporate evaluation (also known as ‘placement exams’), but also now have an understanding about pattern/structure of questionnaire, the difference b/w typical academic exams and industry screenings, and most importantly how your next preparations should be, specially if you’re aiming to clear all the placement exams with flying colours.
And now that there is still some time to go before the results are declared, you must be wondering what’s next. What more you can do to find the most appropriate projects in your preferred areas.
Finding an internship needs a combination of ‘finding the right internship opportunities’ and ‘preparing yourself well to grab those opportunities’. While the former is being taken care of at Switchidea, let us understand what you can do to make yourself internship-ready.
Complete Your Profile on Switchidea
After the NTAT results are declared, your profile will be created on Switchidea. You will receive the username and password to your registered email address. You must login to your Switchidea account and complete your profile with all the needed information. Remember, your profile must be completed within 7 days for your NTAT score and certificate to be tagged to your Switchidea profile. Employers will screen you based on your Switchidea profile details (your location preference, preferred domains, availability for internship and your NTAT score.
Completing your profile is an important step considering the fact that candidates with the good NTAT score are given preference by employers as compared to those without NTAT (Know more: Comparison: NTAT Certified Students And Non-NTAT Certified Students). So yes, complete your Switchidea profile as soon as you can.
Important Tip: Let say if you are available from 1st of May so you should put the availability date as 20th April and start applying to internships. This will help you in getting internship by the time your vacation starts and you won't be wasting any time of your vacation in applying for internships.
Go through the companies which are presently hiring
Once you complete your profile fully, go to 'Find Internships' page and you'll see the list of all the active internship positions listed by employers. Use the appropriate filters (from left sidebar) and you'll the see the list of companies who fit the criteria.
Now, before you proceed further and apply to these internships, you should first visit the websites of the companies you are interested in and start gathering information about them. See their services or products listed on their websites, read about the management (on 'About Us' page) and try to grasp the vision of their organisation. Alternatively, you can also know about their acceptance rate, their average intake, and their strong points on websites like Glassdoor, AmbitionBox, etc. Then filter the list of companies and review their requirements.
At a minimum, most organisations will require you to submit your Cover Letter, provide letters of recommendation (if any) and an updated resume. You might also need to take the print-out of your NTAT certificate available in the Resources Page of your Switch Idea account. Your NTAT certificate is very important. It is recommended to take a print out of it and then laminate the hardcopy of the certificate, so it is now convenient to carry during all your f2f meetings with employers, so this is the time to start getting your presentation skills on place and enhance your approach towards these positions.
Create a LinkedIn Account
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, you will surely need one. A solid LinkedIn profile is a key part of your ‘internship search’, therefore make sure it shines. Spend some time to make it awesome. Write a catchy headline. Use the summary space effectively. Choose a professional photo. Get a custom URL. And, most importantly add NTAT certificate to your LinkedIn account.
Get Your Materials Together
Your Resume: Before making a resume, think about your career goals and the industry/company you want to pursue an internship in. When putting together your resume, make sure you include skills and keywords that relate to the kind of position you are looking for. Write clearly about your education and expected graduation date and maintain a clear formatting throughout.
Your Cover Letter: An impressive cover letter is very important to differentiate you from other applicants. It gives you a chance to personally convey your strengths. Write a concise cover letter clearly stating the position you are applying for, your semester, your skills and your strengths. Keep it strong but short (a maximum of one page) in length.
Letters of Reference: A letter of reference from your professor as well as a personal reference from a friend or internship coordinator can work in your favour. It is a good idea to have as many recommendation letters as possible.
Portfolio: If you are applying for a position related to web designing, social media, graphic designing, writing or editing, you might be asked to showcases examples of work you have done. It is important to keep an online portfolio of your work, which can be easily sent to employers.
Apply for Multiple Internships
Give special attention to the ‘s’ at the end of internships. To increase your chances of landing a good internship apply to as many internships as you can. In case, you missed it, please read the Instructions Manual before you start applying to internships.
Once you login to your Switchidea account, you will be able to see several internship openings. Find the internships in the area of your interest and apply to all of them. Post receiving your application, the employer will shortlist your application based on your resume and the NTAT score and invite you for an interview.
In case your application is not accepted or declined by the employer, you will be notified about it along with a ‘reason for rejection’ for HR.
And finally, prepare for the interview, work on grooming yourself and fine-tune your communication skills. With a little preparation and a good NTAT score, lucrative internships will come your way.
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