Internship : Choosing Firms and Offices_Part II

Hola Guys...!!!

Keeping my promise of coming soon.I am here to discuss more about Firms and Offices.

Last time I discussed about how to search for firms.
Now let's get to Step Two i.e. How to apply into suitable firms

Before applying, be careful about some things to be done while searching for firms:
1. Checking the last date to apply

2. The procedure to apply (Online on the website of firm or by email or by physical presence)
3. Size limit of portfolio (If any)
4. Noting the contact details of the firms

While applying through emails
- Have a separate mail for a separate firm. You should not tell firms where else you are applying, Do You?
- Have a eye catching yet professional looking Subject.
- Body should contain the cover letter content. Don't forget to mention your contact details also.
- Attach your CV first and Portfolio after that. Make sure their names are proper and not like final portfolio or something really more weird. (To know more, read my post about CV and Portfolio)

Now talking about firms, different firms have different requirements or environment. You must have and you must haven't visited some. Hence, your Cover letter content needs to be modified according to the firm. Make those minor changes in your cover letter which will make you look more sincere and informed about the firm. As I already told you in my post regarding Cover letter that it is the first Impression, you should be really careful about the content.

If you are applying through the firm's website, every firm has different requirement. Hence, go through the website carefully before applying.

While applying, note the Contact details of firm with the date applied and last day of their reverting back. Most of the firms only revert back to those who are selected. So, you must need to contact them to know if you are selected or if the procedure is going on or if you are not been selected into that firm.

If last date to revert back is given then, just contact them the last day of reverting back in working hours of the firm or a day after. If there is no date given, then call the firms after 2 or 3 working days to make sure if they got your mail and what is the status of your application.

Well if you have to be physically present into a firm to apply, just call them to get an appointment and rest I will talk about in the step 3 which is about interviews and everything else important.

Be Careful while applying and Good Luck...!!!

Internship : Choosing Firms and Offices_Part I

Hola Everyone...!!!

Well...!!! I have been away for a while right?
But don't worry here I am back again with another important blog in Internship series.
This time we will talk about Firms and Offices.

Let's make it step by step procedure:
Step-I   : Searching for the firms
Step-II  : Applying into the suitable firms
Step-III : Interviews and Everything else
Step-IV : Choosing the best firm for yourself

Not wasting our much time lets just get into the details of these steps now.

Searching for the firms
There are two possible ways to search firms keeping in mind your Institutional conditions.
First, Ask for the lists and go through them and Second, search by yourself.

Before this searching procedure, you should be clear about some of your priorities:
1. The cities/countries you want to work in,
2. The type of projects you are interested in,
3. What you actually want in the whole process of your training. (In my case, I wanted to gain the most knowledge out of my training period. Hence I am where I thought I could seek more of Information and learning from rest of the firms I got selected in)

Third one will make a great difference in your selection of firm you want to work in (Don't make Stipend your priority in Academic training. Think of a long time gain).

So, if you went with the First Way of going through the lists.
You just could not think that it will make your work easier than the second way. Here is what you need to do with the list you get from Professionals or Faculty or Seniors or Friends.
Segregate them according to your above 3 priorities. I must say first two priorities as the third one will most probably be revealed while you went for the interview or had a talk with the firm officials. Segregate the list according to the city/country (Eliminate the ones you don't want to work in).
Search for the selected firms online to check the contact details and type of projects they work in. Here, you can eliminate the firms which do not have projects of your interests. And also you will be updated with latest contact information (In Case of any changes been made to the contact details of the firm).

Then apply for the firms you selected from the above process.  How? I will discuss this in detail while discussing Step-II.

But if you choose to go through the Second Way i.e. Searching Firms on your own.
Don't think it will be more difficult or lengthy than the first way. Because it is not.
You have to search for various firms in city/cities of your choices on internet (Google, Linkedin, Blogs, Facebook pages, etc.) or to know about various firms from people (friends, mentors, faculty, etc.)
Again Segregate them according to your priorities by going through the websites and firm details online and then Apply.

Not making it more lengthy for you people to read, I will talk about the further Steps in my next Blog (with a promise of coming soon).

Till then, Set up a priority list and Start Searching firms with their details to make your own list of firms according to your Interests. And also be careful about the requirements of your institution which you need to satisfy while going to any firm (Mine was at least 10 years old firm/ Principal architect's experience)

Keep in Mind: You can't work for long on a thing or in a job happily if you are not interested in it.