An internship is a short-term, structured work experience offered by organisations to students or recent graduates.
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DIMAPUR — An internship is a short-term, structured work experience offered by organisations to students or recent graduates. Interns get hands-on exposure in a professional setting, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations. They typically last a few weeks to a few months and are like a test run of a job.
By working as an intern, you gain experience, develop skills, and build confidence. Employers in India value candidates with internship experience because it shows you can work in a team and handle real responsibilities.
Internship trends
Roughly half of all internships (around 48-49%) are now work-from-home positions. This is great news for students in Nagaland and the Northeast – you can intern with companies located in big cities like Delhi or Bangalore without leaving your hometown. At the same time, about half of internships still require you to be on-site, which can be valuable if there are local opportunities you can physically attend.
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The duration of internships in India averages about 3.5 to 4 months but can range from very short stints of a couple of weeks to six-month semesters.
Types of Internships
Internships aren’t one-size-fits-all. They come in various types to suit different needs:
• Paid internships: These provide a stipend or salary. Paid internships are common in engineering, tech, business, and design roles. Companies offer a stipend as a token for your contributions. Paid roles are popular because they help students support themselves and value their time.
• Unpaid internships: Some internships, especially in research, social work, or at very small startups, may not pay. Instead, the reward is the experience itself or academic credit.
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• In-person internships: Traditional internships where you go to an office, lab, or field site. These might be in local businesses, banks, newspapers, hospitals, factories, etc. In-person experience is useful to learn workplace etiquette and face-to-face communication.
Who can apply?
Who can apply for internships? The good news is that any student or fresh graduate can find an internship suited to their level. Most internship listings specifically target undergraduate or postgraduate students – whether you’re in a bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc, BTech, etc.) or a master’s programme, you are eligible for many intern roles. Some internships are open even to recent graduates (within a year or two of graduating) who want to gain experience.
There are even opportunities for students of classes 11th and 12th to intern or volunteer in certain fields – for example, some research institutes or NGOs have youth internship programmes for teenagers. However, these are less common; you might need to search a bit more or go through initiatives specifically for school students.
Generally, if you are 18+ and enrolled in a course or have just finished one, you can apply to most internships. The exact eligibility (who can apply) will be mentioned in the internship posting. It might say “open to second-year BBA students” or “any undergraduate student may apply” or sometimes “MBA student preferred”, depending on the role.
Always check the requirements, but don’t be afraid to apply just because you’re a first-year college student – many companies are happy to take in beginners as long as you have the enthusiasm and basic skills.
How to apply for internships
Applying for an internship is a process much like applying for a job but geared towards beginners. Here are the key steps and tips for success:
Build a strong resume: Your resume is usually the first thing an internship recruiter will look at. A resume is a one-page summary of your education, skills, and any projects or activities you’ve done. Since as a student you may not have formal work experience, highlight what you do have – such as school/college projects, technical skills (e.g., programming languages you know, design software you can use), academic achievements, positions of responsibility (like being part of a club or college committee), and any volunteer work.
Keep the resume concise and easy to read. Use bullet points and clear headings. Proofread carefully to avoid any spelling or grammar mistakes. Tailor your resume for the internship you want – for example, if you’re applying for a content writing internship, put your writing or blogging experience and relevant coursework at the top.
If you are applying for a web development internship, list programming projects or coding competitions you participated in. A good tip is to include any mini-projects or online courses you’ve completed, as these show initiative and relevant skills. And don’t forget to update your contact information (phone and email) and ensure your social media or LinkedIn profiles are professional, since recruiters may glance at those too.
Write a persuasive cover letter: A cover letter (or a cover email) is a short write-up you send with your resume explaining why you want the internship and why you’re a good fit. Many internship applications in India ask for a cover letter or a brief “statement of purpose”. This is your chance to speak directly to the recruiter. Keep it to one page or the body of an email.
In your cover letter, state the role you’re applying for and where you found it (e.g., “I am writing to apply for the Graphic Design Intern position at XYZ Company, as advertised on Internshala”). Then, introduce yourself in a few lines – mention what you’re studying and where. Next, explain why you’re interested in that particular internship: maybe you are passionate about the field, or you admire the company’s work.
Be specific. Highlight a couple of relevant skills or projects that make you a good candidate (but don’t just repeat your resume). Finally, express enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Keep the tone professional but genuine. Always proofread your cover letter and avoid any casual language. A well-written cover letter can set you apart, as it shows effort and communication skills.
Best platforms and websites for internship opportunities
Finding internships has become much easier with online platforms. Here are some of the best websites and resources to search for internships in India:
• Internshala: This is one of India’s most popular internship portals. Internshala specifically focuses on internships for students and freshers across India. You can find thousands of listings in various fields – from engineering and management to design, content writing, law, and more. You can filter by location, category, duration, and stipend. For example, you can search for “Nagaland” or nearby cities, or simply look for “work from home” internships if local options are limited. Internshala also often highlights internships in different regions. According to Internshala’s own reports, they have witnessed tremendous growth in postings over the years. The platform is user-friendly – you apply by submitting your resume and answering a few questions.
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional networking site but doubles as a job/internship search platform. Many companies post internship openings on LinkedIn Jobs. You can create a profile (essentially an online resume) and directly apply or reach out to recruiters. LinkedIn is especially useful for finding internships at bigger companies or startups that might not use other portals. You can search for “internship” along with filters like location (e.g., “Guwahati” or “Imphal” or “remote”). Also, networking on LinkedIn can help – connect with professionals or alumni from your region and express your interest in opportunities. Sometimes a polite message or interacting with company posts can put you on the radar for an internship.
• AICTE Internship Portal: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) – which is a government body – launched an official internship portal to connect students with opportunities. This portal (internship.aicte-india.org) was started in 2019 and has listings in both technical and non-technical domains. The government has used it to channel internships in various ministries and sectors. Students from any background can sign up. It’s a good place to check for government-backed internships or programmes in public sector companies.
• National Career Service (NCS): NCS is a government-run job portal (by the Ministry of Labour). It mostly has job listings, but internships and apprenticeships sometimes show up there. It’s free to register. While it may not have as many internship listings as Internshala, it’s worth checking occasionally for any internship schemes or openings, especially in government departments or public sector units.
• Company websites and emails: Some large companies and banks in India have their own career pages where they advertise internships. For example, big IT firms, media houses, or organisations like ISRO, DRDO, etc., have internship or training programmes – these might require you to apply directly on their website or email them. Sometimes, you won’t find details online for smaller local organisations, but you can proactively approach them.
• Advancing North East Portal: A specialised resource for students from the Northeastern states is the Advancing North East portal. This is a one-stop career and livelihood website for the Northeast region. It has a section for internships where you can filter opportunities by state (Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, etc.) and by industry (like agriculture, digital marketing, journalism, engineering, and so on). For example, you could filter by Nagaland to see if any organisation in Nagaland is offering internships or look at "National" to find opportunities open to all India, including NE students.
• Other platforms: There are a few other internship and job websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, LetsIntern, HelloIntern, Twenty19, etc. Indeed (indeed.com) is a general job search engine where you can find internships by searching “internship” + your location. Glassdoor also lists internships and has company reviews which can be insightful. LetsIntern/HelloIntern are India-focused internship sites, though Internshala largely overtook them in popularity; still, some opportunities might be posted there. Additionally, keep an eye on social media and forums – sometimes opportunities are shared in Facebook groups or WhatsApp groups for students.
Each platform has its own way of application – some let you apply with one click, and others require an email. Always follow the instructions given in the internship posting. And remember, never pay any money to apply for an internship – applications are supposed to be free; be cautious of any listing that asks for a “registration fee” or something (those are usually scams). The legitimate platforms mentioned above are safe and widely used by students in India.
Opportunities in Nagaland and the Northeast
Students in Nagaland and the Northeast have access to a growing number of internship opportunities, even though the region is geographically distant from major metros. Here are some avenues to explore:
• Private sector internships: The Northeast, including Nagaland, has a smaller industrial base compared to some other parts of India, but there are still private companies and banks operating that offer internships. Banks and financial institutions often welcome interns for short periods – for example, local branches of national banks (SBI, HDFC, etc.) sometimes take interns in finance or customer relations roles, especially if you have connections or apply through your college.
• NGOs and social work internships: Nagaland and other Northeastern states have numerous active non-governmental organisations focusing on community development, education, health, environment, and youth empowerment. Interning with an NGO can be very rewarding if you are interested in social work or the development sector.
• Startups and local businesses: The startup culture is slowly growing in the Northeast. States like Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland have seen young entrepreneurs launching companies in IT, e-commerce, agribusiness, crafts, and more. For example, there are startups focusing on e-commerce for indigenous crafts, food processing, and educational tech (one known example is a digital education startup in Nagaland focusing on e-learning). These small companies often need interns for roles in digital marketing, content creation, design, or tech development. Because startups have small teams, as an intern you could get to work on important tasks and learn directly from the founders.
Meant to teach
If you’re a student in Nagaland or anywhere in the Northeast unfamiliar with internships, remember: everyone starts somewhere. Doing an internship can seem a bit daunting at first – you might worry you have no experience or that opportunities are too far away. But internships are specifically meant for students to learn, so companies and organisations expect that you are new and will guide you.
Start by figuring out what field excites you, then look for a small opportunity in that area. It could be a one-month assignment at a local business or a remote project with a startup. Each experience will teach you something and boost your confidence. Also, don’t be discouraged by rejections – apply to multiple places, use your college mentors for recommendations, and keep improving your resume and skills.