Internships are phenomenally valuable for a student who desires to gain knowledge in the field he/she is going to enter in a few months or years’ time. It is not only treasured because of the experience one gains out of it but also because of the networking and the ultimate goal of getting the dream job in the sector they aspire. Internship is that part of the curriculum which does not fetch you marks but the knowledge and exposure to the corporate world that one needs for a bright career is partially gained during this period. Whether you intern in a renowned company or just a start up each has a lot to offer to its interns which is unique is every aspect. A start up cannot offer what a well-established company can and vice versa.
My internship at Century Plyboards (I) Ltd., was the first ever position in an office atmosphere and I did not know exactly what top expect and what they expected of me. Due to lack of prior practical exposure, it made me believe that it would be a challenge to apply the theoretical knowledge in the area of finance practically. But it was a great experience as I did not feel out of place and less knowledgeable than my seniors. Though there was not much takeaway in the technical field, there was great learning in terms of working environment, corporate culture and working with people from different backgrounds.
An aspect to success entails the professional attitude one has to possess in order to fit the competitive market. Also, one should have the ability to network with people in the chosen professional field. One other important is also the punctuality one should maintain. During the internship I involved myself with the internship program in order to be in a position of understanding the important aspect of the work. From time to time, I was encouraged to associate with other people in the company so that I would be in a position of gaining experience in this field. This was a partial program which I used to bridge the gap between my theoretical and practical knowledge.
During this time a major takeaway was a totally different area of business of which I had no knowledge. Century Plyboards was the parent company of which Century CFS was a subsidiary or daughter company. I was interning with the subsidiary company, that is, Century CFS which was a service company. It was engaged in the business of Container Freight Stations. This business was a new learning and my objective was to attain the knowledge on the manner in which a container freight station works and carries on its business.
Simply working in the corporate environment and getting used to everything there has definitely prepared me for whatever my next position will be in the industry I work for. Only be observing the everyday events I have learnt more about teamwork and how people come together to get things done. This period was a truly great learning experience and I’ll forever be indebted to those who gave me a hand here. My mentor was a great support throughout this period who has always been patient with me. He has encouraged me throughout my internship and has strengthened my weaknesses and appreciated my strengths. I will always be indebted to him for playing a major role during this phase of my life.
