Essential skills for interns

In my earlier article, I mentioned “passion and purpose”. Without these, life would be meaningless.

Passion is an intense feeling of desire or enthusiasm for a particular activity or idea. Purpose, on the other hand, offers a deeper sense of meaning and direction in life, often involving a contribution to something larger than oneself. While passion fuels your energy and motivation, purpose guides how to channel it effectively.

In this article, I’d like to share what I look for in an intern. Passion, purpose, enthusiasm, and a can-do attitude are what truly matter to me – not just straight As.

The first email

Work-related emails are formal communication. As such, the style should reflect formal business writing. The email could serve as your cover letter or a note to explain your attached cover letter and other documents.

These may include a letter from your university, a short profile, exam results, and certificates of participation in extracurricular activities.

The application letter

It should be personalised to the addressee and tailored to the specific organisation or industry – not a generic template.

Use simple, sincere language. If you use AI, I’ll know, and the verbosity will not be in your favour.

The profile, resume or CV

Whatever you choose to call it, your profile should be interesting and give a sense of who you are – your strengths, interests, ambition, and, of course, your accomplishments.

Some part-time work experience is certainly something that catches my eye.

Preparing for the interview

Best-case scenario, you get an interview. It may be online or in person. The same basic rules apply for both.

Research the company, the industry, the latest developments, and the impact of AI on the business. Also, research competitors. Have some opinions ready to discuss with the interviewer.

Be punctual by arriving a few minutes early. Observe the dress code – this means business attire, so be neat and tidy.

During the interview, I look for hard skills. Hard skills are the technical, measurable abilities required to perform specific tasks, often learned through education or training.

In PR, we look for:

I hope these tips help all aspiring interns. It may seem like a lot, but this is what it takes. To succeed and build a fulfilling career, you must always bring your A-game.

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.