On the job: The internship experience

Lasallians have had different ways of spending this longer than usual, three-hour class of a break. Some have chosen the martyr’s path, taking classes in order to lessen their academic load and graduate earlier. Others have taken the winding roads to sandy beaches and picturesque cobblestone streets to their respective vacation destinations. A third choice is yet another productive way to spend the summer: applying for internships.

Although some have undertaken this as part of the special term, others have voluntarily stepped up and offered themselves to the kings and queens of the urban jungle. But let’s not forget that it’s still work; a simulation of what the real world has in store for students beyond the white fences and high rising pillars of the University. Internships are a chance to alleviate boredom and earn some extra spending money. Moreover, it’s an opportunity to gain experience and to better equip us for what lurks beyond La Salle.

The two-way street

It’s a common misconception that only interns benefit from these OJTs (on-the-job-training); however, the reality is that companies also need fresh faces and eager young minds to lend them a hand or two. It’s a two way street; otherwise, this wouldn’t have become the sort of summer tradition it is today, especially for students entering their third and fourth years in college.

In a world so diverse, there too exists a melangé of internships, from paid to nonprofit, private to public, corporate to creative, even internships abroad. Altogether, no two internship experiences are ever alike. And it seems that each day in the life of an intern is also never the same.

The business of doing business

Like several other students from COB and SOE, Katrina (III, ACM) has always wanted to see work life in a corporate setting. For two consecutive summers, she was able to do as much working at two of the leading multinationals in the country. “I have watched dozens of movies to see what it was like (Devil Wears Prada, The Internship, etc.), and there were somewhat good depictions, if not exaggerated,” shares Katrina.

“Interns do not make coffee for their bosses every morning, nor do they attend to the boss’ personal agenda,” she clarifies, dismissing the notions of interns becoming personal assistants, answering to their supervisors’ beck and call. “At Nestlé, [interns] were treated like new employees. We were there to learn and add value to the company, nothing more, nothing less.”

Of course, what an intern learns depends not only on the company, but also on the sector and industry chosen. Without a doubt, someone training at Globe’s marketing department will learn more about the telecommunications industry than someone from the accounting department at Citi.

The daily grind

While most corporate interns have a 9-5 day planned out, some have a more flexible schedule, albeit one that demands just as much work and productivity.

“I usually go to work every Wednesday and Saturday from 10am onwards, although I’m required to go to the gym on most days at 9am sharp,” says Aaron (III, AE-MKT) who interns for premier fitness organization 5-Percenter. “Since I’m working for a supplements company, they want to keep most of us fit. Since we’re also selling the ‘lifestyle’,” he explains.

Others just seem to like going to work, much like Catherine (V, BSMSECO), who works at the Department of Finance as part of her requirements. “I start as early as 7:30 and end at 6 kasi gusto ko lang, pero 8-5 lang talaga dapat,” she says. It appears working for the government is a rewarding experience for her, to say the least.

The right-brained

Few are aware of the opportunity for creative internships present, especially for students interested in working in the publishing industry and media, or for those looking to hone their talents under fellow creative mentors. Most interns report to agencies and companies housed in buildings with bright industrial interiors. Other creative interns however, either work from home or make their way to coffee shops and galleries around the metro for the day’s work to be done.

Erika (III, ADV) is experiencing firsthand the world of public relations in Campaigns and Grey. From monitoring sponsored celebrities, brainstorming with her team, purchasing products, and attending meetings, Erika has realized, “public relations is different from the creative and digital advertising that I learned in Taft.”

For some start-up businesses by artists, hiring interns is an opportunity to help disseminate tasks. This is true in the case of DLSU alumna Abbey Sy, who has been working as a one-woman-team for the last four years. “I also want to meet young creative minds and be a part of their journey as they reach their dreams,” says Abbey about Team ABC, her creative team of interns consisting of starting out artists, photographers, and writers.

“I hope by assigning them to specific projects, they’re able to build on their skillsets and further enhance on their creative capabilities,” Abbey adds about the internship program she’s entrusted herself and her team with.

The extra mile

Lasallians take their seats in the office next to peers and fellow students from various universities, such as UP or Ateneo. But some students have ventured out into less familiar environments—courtrooms, nongovernment organizations, and even overseas.

Renzo (III, ISE) has been interning at Dennis P. Manalo Law Office, and here he helps lawyers with legal work by researching about particular cases for jurisprudence or specific laws for current cases the firm deals with.

“It is very different from school,” Renzo says. “The stress is different because we are handling sensitive cases that could change someone’s life,” he adds, nevertheless recommending it to aspiring lawyers. Each hearing Renzo attends motivates him towards achieving his goal of becoming a lawyer in the future.

Culture is yet another thing interns are exposed to when they’re on the job. By tradition, the Japanese believe that company successors should be by blood; therefore, as one of the successors to a Toyota franchise, Bea Lim (III, ACM) was sent overseas for her internship with Toyota Motors Asia Pacific, Singapore.

Other than spending four months in a completely different country, she has also been sent on an all-expense paid, four-day business trip to Thailand. But it’s not all shopping, beaches, and leisure. There’s a lot of work, along with the benefits of being abroad; Bea represents her country, her company, and her family. She’s involved in diverse projects, like creating finance insurance and after-sales manuals. She studies various marketing practices in different locations, and she gives her own inputs from a dealer’s perspective, as well as a Philippine perspective.

Bea is getting exposed to working with individuals from different cultures from her Japanese boss to Vietnamese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Pakistani, Thai, and American co-workers. “I love the culture. It’s so competitive but everyone is so friendly,” Bea says about the strict and perfectionist atmosphere that’s molding her.

“They practice this Japanese philosophy called ‘kaizen’. It means continuous improvement. It means never stop growing and learning, and that there is always something to improve within ourselves and with our work,” Bea recollects. About being placed in the Toyota headquarters, she comments, “I’m forced to step up and be my best self everyday.”

The teacher

Altogether, an internship is a learning experience. Whether it was a good or not so good one, it’s a student’s first glimpse of the real world and how its cogs turn. It’s a good way to gauge your future decisions. A career in banking perhaps? Or maybe one in publishing? It all depends on the levels of satisfaction and enjoyment in these fields.

However, if it doesn’t help you realize what you wanted out of life after college, it sure teaches you what you don’t want, because in an unpredictable world, experience still remains the greatest teacher. May it be a detour or a step in the right direction, it is nevertheless a step closer to realizing your potential.

Related read: Entering the real world — What goes into a résumé?