I Managed To Turn My Internship Into A Job. Here’s How

After graduating, we all have this dream of working in a well-paying organization of our dreams and move up the career ladder. The truth, however, is, it is not easy to find employment in the job market. Sometimes, you have to start with what you are being offered just to gain the skills and eventually land your dream job along the way.

I had a chat with a Mary who got her first job after her three-month internship. Although the internship was unpaid, she gathered valuable skills during her time at that organization.

Here is Mary’s story:

How did you get the job?

One of the friends I had made when I got out of campus worked for a leading media house. When I shared with her I was looking for a job, she invited me for an interview at the media house.

How was the interviewing process?

I attended one interview. This was a face to face interview which entailed questions that basically focused on my personality and qualities. It was all about the interviewers gauging me based on my communication and engagement, to find out if I was the right person for the job.

How long did it take to hear back after the interview?

I got the job on the spot. It started out as a three-month internship. In the fourth month, I got the job offer. Both the internship and job were unpaid.

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Which department were you allocated?

I got to work in quite a number of departments. I was a TV presenter, a scriptwriter, and then an admin assistant.

What exactly did your job entail?

As a scriptwriter, I was tasked with writing scripts for a particular show. As a TV presenter, I had to conduct research on the topic I was to present on, do videos on the same, edit the video and then give the program to the producer as a finished piece.

When I moved to be an admin assistant, I was dealing with clients, engaging with suppliers, booking appointments and taking messages among other duties.

How would you describe your working environment?

It was a good working experience. It was relaxed and without pressure. Working there also taught me a number of lessons.

What lessons did you learn?

I learned how to engage with different people. The way I would engage with a manager is not the same way I would engage with an individual seeking our services.

Time management is also another lesson I got to learn. I had to be at work early every day as there were meetings before you started your day at the office.

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What was your best experience?

There was this time I was doing a different program. This was a feature story which was touching on different issues concerning society. For this, I had to go to the field and get people’s opinions on the issue. This is the day I realized people do not like being on TV.

It was frustrating having to look for people from the streets to share their comment. The fun part about this, however, was listening to the diverse opinions people had.

What is your advice to job seekers out there?

Your network is your net worth. Ensure that you network as this may just be your path to the career of your dreams.

When given an opportunity to work and showcase your skills, give it your all, even if someone does not notice it.

Lastly, work as if you are working for God because He is the one who blesses the work of your hands.