By Mohd Khairi Mohamad Yusri
GOMBAK, 12 December 2020: One should never underestimate the importance for undergraduates to undergo internship when this would provide them with opportunities to be exposed to the industry, to discover for themselves their career ambitions, and to acquire experiences to secure jobs.
Head of IIUM Counselling and Career Services Centre (CCSU), Saiful Redza bin Mohamed told a webinar on “Internship: The Do’s & Don’ts” yesterday that internship is actually a bridge for real employment.
œIt depends on the luck, sometimes it is unfortunate for the student after their excellent performance during the internship, it’s just that at that particular time the company was not recruiting, so they did not secure the job, Saiful Redza said.
œBut still, whatever experiences you went through during internship, it is something that is valuable that you should put it in your resume, so it will support your application for job, he added. Â
Saiful Redza pointed out three criteria that students should have to secure a job after internship at the organisation – company’s reputation, experiences, and job placement probability.
To find information about internship placement, Saiful Redza suggested for students to always seek advice from their seniors on their internship experiences.
He said, œBecause there are a few companies out there, when you hear the name, you will simply be amazed by their reputation, but in reality that particular company does not give you any real working experience.
œThis happens due to the company not having a well-planned programme for their interns, he added.
During the session, Saiful Redza discouraged the students from applying to do internship in government agencies, instead encouraged them to apply at startup companies.
He said, œWhile in the startup company, you are working in the open space and you will always meet up with the CEO or co-founder.
œSo, if they are happy with your work, they will directly offer you the job, he said.
œIn government agency, no matter how well you performed, at the end of the day, you wont be able to secure a place because the hiring process is subjected to the warrant from Public Services Department, Saiful Redza added.
The webinar was organised by Communication Internship Class and attended by some 60 students.
In the webinar, Saiful Redza also shared tips on the do’s and donts during internship as follows:
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