Anna’s internship B1

Last year, Anna decided to look for an internship at an IT company. She was in her final year at university and worked part-time in a bookshop. She had recently completed an online course in software testing and wanted to use her new skills. Although she enjoyed working with customers, she was ready to try something different. Before applying, she updated her CV and added information about her course project. A friend also helped her write a cover letter explaining why she wanted to change careers.

Over the next two weeks, Anna applied to six different companies. Several positions required professional experience, so she wasn’t sure whether she would be considered. However, one company was offering a paid three-month internship for people at the beginning of their careers. The job description said that a willingness to learn was more important than previous experience. Anna submitted her application on Thursday, just one day before the deadline. A few days later, a recruiter called Daniel contacted her to arrange a short phone call.

They agreed to speak on Thursday afternoon after three. However, that morning, one of Anna’s colleagues became ill, and she had to cover an extra shift. She emailed Daniel, apologised for the inconvenience, and asked whether they could reschedule. Daniel replied that Friday morning would also work for him. Anna was relieved that changing the appointment hadn’t caused a problem. Before the call, she prepared a list of questions about the internship.

Daniel explained that the internship involved twenty hours of work a week, including two days in the office. The pay was slightly lower than Anna had expected, but the training opportunities sounded promising. She asked whether someone would support her while she was learning. Daniel told her that each intern worked with an experienced mentor. He also explained that the next stage included an interview with the hiring manager and a practical task. To prepare, Anna researched the company and practised talking about her strengths.

At the interview, Anna admitted that she had limited technical experience. The manager asked her to describe a situation in which she had dealt with an unhappy customer. She explained how she had listened carefully to a complaint and found a solution without involving her supervisor. For the practical task, she had to test a shopping website and describe any problems she noticed. Although she missed one error, her notes were clear and easy to follow. The following week, Daniel called to offer her the internship.

During her first week, Anna met the team and learned how to use their tools. At first, she avoided asking questions because everyone seemed busy. Her mentor explained that asking for help was better than making assumptions. As the weeks passed, Anna became more confident and started asking for feedback regularly. By the end of the internship, she had completed a small project that helped improve the website’s checkout process.

Her manager was impressed by both her progress and her ability to communicate clearly. At their final meeting, he offered her a full-time position as a junior software tester. After discussing her university commitments, they agreed that she would start after graduation. Looking back, Anna realised that being honest about her experience and acting on feedback had helped her succeed. The internship had given her the practical experience she needed to take the next step in her career.