When is the right time to go for internship?

I would like to get industrial training opportunities so that I have a feel of the work environment and to practice what we are learning. At what level should one join as an intern in a company, should it be after 1,2,3,4,5 years after university or? James.

Dear James,
Internships are a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to acquire direct exposure to work. Opportunities are usually available in a variety of areas and attempts are always made to match the interests of the intern with the organizational needs.
Some companies have assignments available on a part-time and full time basis throughout the year while for some, they happen at specified time periods.

Internship programmes differ in a number of organisations where by the applicants are required to meet certain requirements, for example they should be in their final or second last year of study or recent graduates who must start internship within one-year of graduation.
The internship duration varies depending on the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the organisational needs, though a typical experience usually lasts from three to six months.

It may be paid or non-paid and sometimes it is carefully monitored and evaluated for academic credit.
Interns are selected on a competitive basis hence an interview comes in handy. With careful consideration of whom to engage, some of the most common pitfalls of internships can be avoided.

Interns are also subject to legal protections and regulations which companies put into consideration like, what work can and can’t you assign? Can they work beyond the specified internship duration?

Alice Nankya L. Nsibuka
HR business partner
NMG - Uganda
[email protected]