2. Life as an Intern
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Welcome again to this eLearning unit! On this page, you will find information about the possibilities provided by this platform and the structure of the unit.
Background: Why is an internship actually so important?
When it comes to gaining a foothold in the job market, the theoretical expertise provided by a study program alone will not suffice. A typical working day is usually a lot different than a study program and involves different requirements. You do not just have to understand what you have learned but also have to be able to apply it in practice. A representative survey of more than 300 companies has additionally revealed that 70% of the respondents view the practical experience gained as increasingly important for successful career entry. It is therefore the most frequently mentioned factor for personnel selection in the world of Work 4.0 (cf. German University Education Report 2020, Annual Report 2016 (Hochschul-Bildungsreport 2020, Jahresbericht 2016), p. 28). Internships offer an ideal opportunity for you to become a graduate with practical experience for future employers.
Field reports
Our videos with illustrative examples and concrete tips, subtitled in English, show how theory and practice can be combined successfully. Below you will find several exciting field reports from students who have already completed their internships.
Video - Field Report 2: About the internship
English subtitles
Objectives, structure and organization of the eLearning unit
In addition to general information about your internship, the application process and life as an intern, the objectives and focal points of this eLearning unit cover the topics of self-reflection and the transfer of the subject matter from your studies into the tasks involved in your internship. Self-reflection will help you to get to know yourself and your strengths and abilities even better, as well as to formulate your own goals and achieve them more effectively. The transfer of theory into practice gives your internship and thus your academic education much more value by helping you to better understand the content of your studies.
These focus areas are the common thread that runs through the eLearning unit, and you will receive information on them in different places. This will allow you to learn what a transfer internship is and what advantages it offers. You can also download a Reflection Diary that can accompany you before, during and after your internship.
The eLearning unit is divided into three phases:
A lot of the information not only applies to your internship but can also be applied to your career entry later on. The application process is an example: In this section, you have the opportunity to produce your written application documents. These can then serve as a basis for further applications. If you save the documents in one folder, you will save a lot of time and effort in future application procedures.
A digital support offer is not enough for you? No problem, because special counseling services for students are available at almost every university. You will usually find them on the homepage under Career Service. These services provide you with expert support for the entire application process and valuable tips on finding a job and getting started in internships and your career.
These focus areas are the common thread that runs through the eLearning unit, and you will receive information on them in different places. This will allow you to learn what a transfer internship is and what advantages it offers. You can also download a Reflection Diary that can accompany you before, during and after your internship.
The eLearning unit is divided into three phases:
- Before the internship: Internship Search and Application
- During the internship: Life as an Intern
- After the internship: Self-Reflection
A lot of the information not only applies to your internship but can also be applied to your career entry later on. The application process is an example: In this section, you have the opportunity to produce your written application documents. These can then serve as a basis for further applications. If you save the documents in one folder, you will save a lot of time and effort in future application procedures.
A digital support offer is not enough for you? No problem, because special counseling services for students are available at almost every university. You will usually find them on the homepage under Career Service. These services provide you with expert support for the entire application process and valuable tips on finding a job and getting started in internships and your career.
Symbol explanation
Here you will find the symbols used in this module and their meanings. These symbols will guide you throughout the entire eLearning unit.
Be active: This is where you will find exercises, worksheets or other tasks that will help you on your way. You can download the worksheets and fill them out on your computer or print them out and fill them out by hand.
Checklist: Use our checklists to keep an overview at all times and remember all important tasks and information. If you like, you can print them out and fill them out as well.
Reflection Diary: Here you will find reflection exercises that you can complete in your personal Reflection Diary. You can download your diary here.
Download here