Internship Coordination Office

Internships serve as a bridge between education and professional life. If you see your internship as just a formality or a requirement to fulfill, you are missing a major opportunity. Here is a comprehensive internship guide for those who want to turn their internship into a valuable career step.

A Guide for Interns
When done correctly, internships benefit both parties—students gain industry experience, while companies identify potential candidates. Internships help students recognize their own skills and career paths, while companies discover and train future employees.

Many multinational corporations now treat internships with great seriousness, transforming them into mutually beneficial experiences. These companies invest in career days, competitions, and recruitment-style internship selection processes, testing and interviewing candidates just as they would for full-time jobs. Many firms hire top-performing interns into permanent positions after their internship period.

Short internships lasting only one month are becoming less preferred. Instead, long-term internships of 6, 10, or even 18 months are gaining popularity. These internships, which take place during academic semesters, allow students to learn on the job and help them transition into the workforce more smoothly upon graduation.

How Companies Manage Internships Successfully

Some companies take internships very seriously and integrate interns into their operations in meaningful ways.

Every Intern Gets a Coach, Mentor, and Buddy – P&G Example

At P&G Turkey, a comprehensive internship program is in place:
   • Every intern is assigned a coach for professional guidance,
   • A mentor for career support,
   • A peer buddy—a fellow employee who helps them adapt to the company culture.

During their internship, P&G interns lead real projects within their departments, managing budgets and resources as full-time employees would.

Nalan Öğüt, P&G Turkey’s Recruitment Manager, states:
“There is no difference between our employees and interns. It is a mutually enriching experience. We treat our interns as future employees, assigning them real responsibilities and supporting their personal development.”

P&G also launched the P&G Business School, a year-round program for 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate and master’s students, offering seminars, classes, and internship opportunities.

Successful interns are given priority in the following year's hiring process, often receiving early job offers.

Internship Hiring Will Become More Professional in the Next 5 Years

According to HRM Co-Founder Aylin Coşkunoğlu Nazlıaka, the internship selection and hiring process in Turkey will become more structured and professional in the next five years.

She explains:
“Gaining work experience during studies is crucial. Employers prefer discovering and training internal talent rather than constantly searching for new hires. A well-managed internship benefits both students and companies, creating a win-win situation.”

However, when interns are left on their own or not encouraged to complete meaningful tasks, internship programs lose credibility.

She shares an example:
“A former intern told us that at their previous company, the department manager bought bagels for everyone in the morning—but never for the intern. While this may seem like a small issue, it reflects how interns are sometimes perceived and treated unfairly.”

International Best Practices – Germany’s Example

Countries like Germany have highly structured technical internships.

Hazar Candan Wilson, General Manager of Hill International Turkey, explains:
“Through university-industry collaborations, students complete 3–6-month internships annually, contributing directly to company projects. Their theses are often based on real business problems, helping companies find innovative solutions.”

This practical approach makes students more employable and strengthens industry ties.

HP’s 18-Month Internship Program

HP runs an extensive internship program across 15 countries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa (MEMA) region.
   • HP’s internships can last up to 18 months, allowing students to work while studying.
   • Interns receive compensation based on work hours, with meal and travel expenses covered.
   • The program allows students to explore career paths and helps HP identify top talent.
   • Successful interns are often invited to HP’s New Graduate Program, with a goal of promoting them to specialist roles within 2–3 years.

According to HP MEMA Graduate Program Manager Ebru Erdoğuş:
“Many of our full-time employees started as interns. These programs help us build a strong talent pipeline and fill key positions with skilled individuals”

Interns Hired After Graduation – Finansbank Example

At Finansbank, interns are considered potential future employees.
   • The bank evaluates intern performance and invites successful interns to full-time job interviews after graduation.
   • In 2009, Finansbank hired 35 former interns as full-time employees.

Some banks also offer project-based internships, where interns work on specific assignments in addition to their regular tasks. At the end of the internship, they present their projects to senior management. Interns with high evaluation scores are prioritized in hiring decisions.

Microsoft’s Internship Program – A Full Hiring Process

Previously, Microsoft Turkey only accepted short-term summer interns. However, due to increased demand, the company now offers long-term internships where students can work a few days per week during the school year.

   • The internship period starts in August and lasts 1.5–2 months for short-term internships and 10 months for long-term internships.
   • Interns participate in a detailed orientation program with mentors and department managers.
   • Microsoft sees interns as potential long-term employees.

According to Belgin Ertam, Microsoft Turkey’s HR Vice President:

“We treat our intern selection as a hiring process. This year, we improved our recruitment process by implementing English proficiency tests, aptitude assessments, and competency-based evaluations. Candidates who passed these stages attended group assessment centers before final interviews with department managers. This rigorous process ensures we find the best talent.”

Microsoft plans to hire 20 short-term interns and 15 long-term interns this year.

Advice for Young People

• First and foremost, do not see internships as an obligation; consider them a learning experience and a steppingstone to your career.
• Choose your internship field carefully, determine what interests you, what your strengths are, and where you want to grow. However, stay flexible—if possible, intern in different departments to discover your full potential.
• Adapt to the company culture, dress appropriately. Avoid ripped jeans, shorts, or flip-flops at the workplace.
• Mind your communication style: do not address your managers or supervisors with informal titles like "uncle" or "aunt."
• People may see you as “just an intern” who will leave in a few weeks; prove to them that you are a valuable asset to the company.
• Complete your tasks on time and accurately, just as a regular employee would. Stay cooperative, eager, and open to learning.
• Take initiative and seek responsibilities. If people don’t notice you, make sure they do.
• Observe carefully—pay attention to how employees communicate on the phone, interact with colleagues, and conduct themselves professionally
• Find role models—stay close to inspiring professionals and learn from them.
• Talk to professionals in your desired career path and seek their advice on skills and experience.
• Interpersonal skills are key. A friendly, helpful, and respectful attitude will take you further than you expect. Stay natural but always respectful.
• Teamwork and leadership skills will make you stand out.
• Show your managers that you want to stay in the company by demonstrating your commitment and abilities.
• Attend career fairs and company events to learn about different industries and clarify your goals.
• Be creative in your internship applications to differentiate yourself.
• Maintain contact with people from your internship, even after it ends.

Written by: Burcu Özçelik
Source: https://www.kigem.com/staji-firsata-cevirmenin-yollari.html
Tags: Personal Development
 

According to a study by Accenture Strategy, 43% of 2015 graduates who completed an internship were later employed at the same company. These results highlight that getting an internship at a company where you want to work is a crucial step toward full-time employment.

From an employer’s perspective, candidates with real work experience in their field are much more preferred over those without.

So, how can you secure an internship at the company you want?

Know Your Goals and What You Want

Once you have a clear career goal, it becomes easier to focus and take steps toward it.

• Know what experience you expect from your internship and set specific goals accordingly.
• Identify your interests and be as specific as possible—this will help you narrow down the right opportunities.
• Reach out to professionals working in your area of interest to learn more about the job.

Once you determine your goals, the next step is to identify the right companies and build relationships to prepare a strong application.

Expand Your Professional Network

Use platforms like LinkedIn and Xing to connect with professionals and learn from them. Engage in Twitter discussions, and don’t just create accounts—actively participate.

• Reach out to professionals for advice—even if you don’t know them personally, they can provide valuable insights into job opportunities and industry trends.

Writing a Strong Application Letter

Many applicants fail to highlight their unique contributions in their cover letters;  they tend to mention generic or unimportant details.

• Instead, identify three specific skills that you can offer and list them concisely.
• Focus on how you can add value to the company—this will immediately make your application stand out

Prepare for Your Interview

Getting an interview does not mean you have secured the internship—treat it as seriously as a full-time job interview.

• Research the company—visit their website and follow them on social media to analyze their content and values.
• Prepare insightful questions for the interviewer—this shows that you have taken time to research and are genuinely interested in the internship.

Source: http://www.lojiblog.com/istediginiz-sirkette-staj-yapmanin-yollari/