So you’re looking to gain invaluable experience by completing a SME Internship, great news! But what happens if none of the opportunities listed on the SME opportunities page on mycareer appeal to you.
While there is a range of different organisations that are constantly being updated for you to look through, there’s always the option of sourcing your own.
If you can’t find anything that matches the career you are aspiring to, or you have a dream organisation in mind, read this step by step guide on finding your own SME Internship.
While it can be daunting sending speculative applications, the Careers Service are here to help you get that internship offer you are hoping for!
Step one: finding SMEs
Start by collecting a list of organisations that you could approach. Maybe you have a few in mind but if not check out the organisations page on mycareer which you can filter by industry. The Sector guides are also a good place to look for websites and portals that are specific to your area. If you have no luck on those then it might be useful to head over to LinkedIn or another social media platform to find smaller companies that might not be as easy to source online.
Step two: researching your SME
Once you have one, or a couple SMEs in mind, it’s important that you do your research.
Internships should be mutually beneficial and any company you might work for should align with your values and aspirations. Read this blog to find out more about what you can offer an SME.
It might be good to see if they run an internship programme themselves or have done so in the past. Make sure you check that they meet all the eligibility criteria for the scheme, which can be found here. Do this before approaching them to save you both time and energy.
Step three: writing a speculative application
You’ve found your organisation, well done! This is the stage where it can get a little nerve-wracking. All you have to remember is that you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It’s time to send them an email introducing yourself and the scheme. Try and find a contact email on their website. If you can find a specific person rather than a general inbox always go with that as you’re more likely to get a reply.
Make sure to perfect your CV. You can get instant feedback using the online feedback tool CareerSet. Be professional, friendly and explain why you think it would be a good opportunity for both of you.
mycareer has some really helpful resources on speculative applications to guide you through the whole process.
Step four: the response
You’ve done the hard part, now it’s time to wait. There’s no knowing how long it will take for them to reply, or if you will even get one! Whatever the outcome, try not to take it too personally. Being able to handle rejection is an important skill and know that it is not reflective of you as a person.
Wait at least one to two weeks for a response, before following up with a polite reminder. If you still don’t hear back it’s time to start the process again. That’s totally fine, you might have to contact multiple SMEs before you find one willing to provide you with an internship.
Future steps
The most important thing is to be persistent and to not give up. The right opportunity will land in your lap eventually, as long as you put in the work. Remember to keep checking the SME Internship page on mycareer.
In this process you are never alone, the Careers Advisors are here for a Live Chat or an in person session at 5 Tyndall Avenue.
Good luck!