WINTER vacation is no longer simply a time for family feasts and reunions with friends. It has become an important opportunity for college students to complete work internships.
Peng Hongmei, a junior English education major from Southwest University in Chongqing, is searching for an internship at a private English training center in her city for the coming one-month vacation.
"I hope to gain some teaching experience before facing job interviews next year," said the 20-year-old, who hopes to become an English teacher in the future.
According to Peng, it's better to start job preparations as early as possible: "Next year I'll be too busy for internships and I'll have to start looking for jobs during the summer vacation."
As students across the country join Peng in search of a winter internship, both domestic and foreign companies are offering more positions.
Check websites
KPMG, a leading world accounting firm, is recruiting students for its Winter Internship 2009 project. Guangdong Development Bank also runs a similar winter internship program.
With the break just a month away, this is the time for students to start applying.
While some companies post openings on their official websites, or on recruitment websites like ChinaHR.com, other programs target specific universities. It is always worth checking your university's bulletin board.
21st Century talked with an HR expert about how to make full use of a winter internship, and also with a young professional about how a holiday job can help your career.
Searching for a chance to shine during internship
WINTER vacation internships are a good way for students to get a real taste of working life for a short period of time. There have been many senior year interns who have performed well and been offered permanent positions. Even for interns who aren't looking for jobs, it enriches their social experience.
But there are normal difficulties that must be considered. For one, it is usually the busiest time of year in the office, with everyone working on summaries and reviews, as well as plans for the next year. This can lead to interns receiving less guidance and training when they arrive. It can be improper to bother employees with trivial matters.
However, this doesn't mean you just slack off on the job. Instead, you need to search hard for opportunities to shine. One clever way is to try and spot where staff need the most help and then offer a hand. For instance, you could display your computer skills by assisting employees who are not familiar with software.
It is important to arrange your schedule well ahead of time. Consider the job when booking train or plane tickets. It would not reflect well on you if you have to cancel or rearrange plans at the last minute. Although you're just an intern, try to behave professionally in the office.
Tibetan adventure prepared me for the workplace
I SPENT a month in Tibet for a winter vacation internship at China Mobile during my last year in college. I was hesitant when applying for the position as I knew conditions would be tough –with a temperature of minus 20 degrees on the plateau.
However, as I knew it would be the last chance I had to do something like this, I went for it. And it turned out to be truly worthwhile.
My job was to solve technical problems at telecom base stations in areas around Lhasa. At first, we interns were amazed by the stunning scenery there, but before long we were dragged back to reality.
It was hard to survive and work well in such a harsh environment. Besides the professional knowledge, I found the ability to coordinate and communicate with others key to survival in the workplace. For instance, we needed help understanding local Tibetan citizens.
Sleeping in the car
Everyday we were driven in a small car from place to place. One on occasion, our car broke down on the way back to the hotel. I had to stay inside the vehicle all night, even though it was freezing and there were wild animals about.
I feel I am now more patient and can deal with stress better. While some of my classmates withdrew after a few days, I stuck with it to the end and took the train back to my hometown, Anhui, one day before Spring Festival.
Several students from my university were offered contracts by China Mobile after the internship. I didn't go there because I had a different career goal and wanted to be a manager instead of an engineer.
However, the experience still proves useful during job interviews, and it helped me adjust to a working mentality.
Peng Hongmei, a junior English education major from Southwest University in Chongqing, is searching for an internship at a private English training center in her city for the coming one-month vacation.
"I hope to gain some teaching experience before facing job interviews next year," said the 20-year-old, who hopes to become an English teacher in the future.
According to Peng, it's better to start job preparations as early as possible: "Next year I'll be too busy for internships and I'll have to start looking for jobs during the summer vacation."
As students across the country join Peng in search of a winter internship, both domestic and foreign companies are offering more positions.
Check websites
KPMG, a leading world accounting firm, is recruiting students for its Winter Internship 2009 project. Guangdong Development Bank also runs a similar winter internship program.
With the break just a month away, this is the time for students to start applying.
While some companies post openings on their official websites, or on recruitment websites like ChinaHR.com, other programs target specific universities. It is always worth checking your university's bulletin board.
21st Century talked with an HR expert about how to make full use of a winter internship, and also with a young professional about how a holiday job can help your career.
Searching for a chance to shine during internship
WINTER vacation internships are a good way for students to get a real taste of working life for a short period of time. There have been many senior year interns who have performed well and been offered permanent positions. Even for interns who aren't looking for jobs, it enriches their social experience.
But there are normal difficulties that must be considered. For one, it is usually the busiest time of year in the office, with everyone working on summaries and reviews, as well as plans for the next year. This can lead to interns receiving less guidance and training when they arrive. It can be improper to bother employees with trivial matters.
However, this doesn't mean you just slack off on the job. Instead, you need to search hard for opportunities to shine. One clever way is to try and spot where staff need the most help and then offer a hand. For instance, you could display your computer skills by assisting employees who are not familiar with software.
It is important to arrange your schedule well ahead of time. Consider the job when booking train or plane tickets. It would not reflect well on you if you have to cancel or rearrange plans at the last minute. Although you're just an intern, try to behave professionally in the office.
Tibetan adventure prepared me for the workplace
I SPENT a month in Tibet for a winter vacation internship at China Mobile during my last year in college. I was hesitant when applying for the position as I knew conditions would be tough –with a temperature of minus 20 degrees on the plateau.
However, as I knew it would be the last chance I had to do something like this, I went for it. And it turned out to be truly worthwhile.
My job was to solve technical problems at telecom base stations in areas around Lhasa. At first, we interns were amazed by the stunning scenery there, but before long we were dragged back to reality.
It was hard to survive and work well in such a harsh environment. Besides the professional knowledge, I found the ability to coordinate and communicate with others key to survival in the workplace. For instance, we needed help understanding local Tibetan citizens.
Sleeping in the car
Everyday we were driven in a small car from place to place. One on occasion, our car broke down on the way back to the hotel. I had to stay inside the vehicle all night, even though it was freezing and there were wild animals about.
I feel I am now more patient and can deal with stress better. While some of my classmates withdrew after a few days, I stuck with it to the end and took the train back to my hometown, Anhui, one day before Spring Festival.
Several students from my university were offered contracts by China Mobile after the internship. I didn't go there because I had a different career goal and wanted to be a manager instead of an engineer.
However, the experience still proves useful during job interviews, and it helped me adjust to a working mentality.