The semester is fast approaching, and along with it the start of your London internships. We’re writing to remind you of a few details to think about as you are getting ready for the semester.
- Packing: Most of the internships are business casual, meaning that it will not be necessary to go out and buy a million suits to wear. You will want to get by with as little dry-cleaning as possible, as dry-cleaning can get very expensive. You will need to have one more formal outfit for the interview. For men, this could be a suit or shirt with tie, dress trousers and nicely maintained dress shoes. For women, a button-down top or nice sweater with a knee-length or longer skirt, hose and heels, or dress trousers and nicely maintained dress shoes. Once you get into the internship, we take it as a rule of thumb to try to follow your supervisor’s dress. If he/she wears a tie/ skirt everyday, you should try to dress to their level of formality. If he/she wears jeans everyday, you can do the same if you clear it with them. Bring far fewer clothes than you think you will need. You will find that you wear many of the same work clothes over and over.
- Arrival schedule: We will meet with the interns during your first week in London, for an hour-long orientation, followed by a question-and-answer session for general questions. We will then meet with each intern for five minutes to hand out information packs about each placement. We know that you are very enthusiastic, but please save your questions for the this question-and-answer session and the five-minute one-on-one meetings, so that we can give you our full attention.
- Researching your company: Please plan to set aside a few hours after your interview with IE to research your company. All interviews for all placements will usually take place during the first week. Ideally, you will be starting work as soon as possible. In a few cases, these dates may change depending on the schedule of the employer, so it is important to remain flexible.
- What to bring for the interview: Please remember to bring a hard copy of your CVs and clips for the interview. All of the employers will have copies of your CV, but it is important and professional to bring one just in case. In most instances, the person you are interviewing with will not ask for clips, but, especially for you writers, it is important to bring a few, in case the person asks. As you may not get your first choice placement, it would be best to make these clips general, so that they could apply to many different jobs.
- Three key intern attributes: The interview and placement process can be very nerve-wracking and time-consuming. We’ve given you the dates above as a guideline, but it is important to remember that sometimes things don’t always go to plan. Please bring with you your patience, flexibility and an open mind. With these, you will be well-equipped to start your internship.
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