Euractiv has many good examples of how employing interns in a smart way can really benefit the company in future years. Several colleagues engaged as interns have stayed with Euractiv, and even hold leadership positions only five years after they joined.
I have interviewed many dozens of interns over the past 15 years. For me, academic qualifications are almost secondary, as most people trying to break into the EU bubble have studied ‘European Affairs’ or a similar course. Attendance at a particular university/institution is also less important for me. I assume that most courses (other than courses that are technical in nature) are fairly standardised with the teaching syllabus.
When reading a CV and especially in the interview process, I want to get behind the CV jargon and try to assess the person in front of me. To do this, I apply up to 10 ‘filters’, and these help me make a decent assessment.
- Team player – Is this candidate able to work well in a team environment? Holiday jobs on the CV can help answer this question.
- Multitasker – Is the candidate able to navigate irregular working patterns and deal with heavier workloads at certain times?
- Flexibility – How flexible will the candidate be if/when asked to step outside their comfort zone?
- Maturity – Do I think the candidate will adapt to an office environment and not continue to display ‘student-like behaviour’ in a professional setting.
- Attention to detail – Do I think this candidate has a meticulous attention to detail, always checking work/emails before hitting ‘send’?
- Organisational skills – Do I think the candidate is a well-organised person with a logical thinking process?
- International – How well travelled is this candidate? Are they internationally minded and able to embrace different business cultures?
- Ability to learn – Does the candidate appear open-minded enough to accept feedback, take advice, and then progress?
- Future career path – Is this candidate future ‘management material’?
- Staying power – This is the most difficult to ascertain, but do I think the candidate will join and then immediately start looking for a job in the EU institutions? Or are they really serious about joining a leading media company in the EU bubble?
As someone interviewing for an intern position, you can bear these tips in mind. But every employer looks for different things. So perhaps the best advice I can give is: be yourself; stay relaxed and personable; answer any questions honestly!
