A trip across the world through words

I was looking for an internship to make a productive use of my free time and build my resume. I would be lying if I said the prospect of making money wasn't a big factor. When I started building my resume, I realised that I had certain skills that I could use. Being sceptical about finding an internship in my field of study, Sociology, I decided to give content writing a try as I had a flair for writing.

Striving for the best

I looked for a virtual internship since an in-office internship wasn't feasible due to my college timings. At first, it was disheartening as I got rejected several times. However, these rejections made me patient and humble, taught me not to overestimate my abilities, and encouraged me to push harder. I couldn't understand where I was going wrong but determined not to give up, I reworked on my resume. I added MS Office skills, mentioned that I was fluent in three languages and that I was familiar with blogging and using WordPress, and that I had my own blog too. This improved my resume significantly and when I applied for the fourth internship, it proved to be decisive in my selection.

I gave a Skype interview and got hired but on receiving the terms of the internship, I realised that I was going to be overburdened and underpaid. I declined the offer because my favourite villain had taught me – 'If you are good at something, never do it for free'.

So, I kept trying and finally landed an internship with a travel company called Backpacker Panda. I was asked to submit a sample write-up. So, I submitted an article on 'Infrastructure of Bangalore', which I had written for a college magazine. I was shortlisted for the telephonic round wherein they asked about my daily schedule, how many hours I could devote, and whether I would be able to manage my studies and work together, etc. I was briefed on the exact nature of work and the remuneration I would receive for it. They were impressed with my write-up and my interview went well too, so I was hired immediately.

Now, I get to write reviews of travel articles from the comfort of my home and the pay is decent too. I'm given travel articles and blog links which I read thoroughly and review and summarise in a specific format given by the company. I provide essential details like blog links, article links and names of the authors, and grade the articles on a scale of 10 based on various parameters. The internship has been smooth so far and my love for travelling and writing makes the job fun and passionate. Also, my mentor has been extremely cooperative. I keep adding my achievements to my resume from time to time.

In the end, I'd like to give a clichéd but important advice – 'Rejection is inevitable; accept it and move on. Do not give up under any circumstances. Sooner or later, you'll find what you've been looking for.'

(The author is pursuing BA in Sociology from Jadavpur University, Kolkata)