Enternships Blog

Enternships Case Study: A Developer's Story Posted on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at 09:49AM by trrpaipai

Rosie Harvey finished her postgraduate studies in Computer Science last year and, after a short break, she started looking for work to get some real-world experience. Soon enough she came across Enternships which helped her find something better than the usual internship: an enternship.

I used lots of different websites to try and find something as there seemed to be a reasonable number of opportunities available without having to investigate recruitment agencies. I was told about Enternships by a friend as a good place to look, especially for jobs with tech startups. Generally the problems I faced when finding jobs to apply for was in the experience and expertise required. The majority of the Enternships I found, whether paid, unpaid, full-time, part-time, or somewhere in between, were very willing to concentrate on potential and willingness to learn rather than standard experience which was very reassuring to see. Becoming an intern seemed like an ideal way to get some really good experience that I could then use to get a permanent job.

"Becoming an intern seemed like an ideal way to get some really good experience."

When applying for jobs I make sure my CV is up to date. Then for each job I tweak it to make sure it's very easy to see that I meet as many of the criteria as possible, even if it's just mentioning specific programming languages that are in the job description (as long as I've actually had experience with them!). For interviews some good examples to think of are how you have dealt with bugs in code, to see how you solve problems, and something you have built and the steps you took in making it show how you approach it. I started an Enternship at Xylyx Ltd (www.xylyx.com) at the start of September as a Developer intern. Xylyx is a startup that deals with online payments, as well as things like digital ticketing. So far I have created websites using WordPress, edited code and written a web-based application with Java and JSP. I've really been enjoying my time there and my brain is completely filled with all the learning.

Working in a small company means we can easily talk, and bounce ideas off each other, and provide a different perspective on all the various things going on.

It's really great working for a small company because I can be incredibly useful and have actual responsibility; it certainly fully dispels the notion of an intern making the tea and doing photocopying and not much else. Some marketing interns started at the same time as me, and my boss was keen to ensure we communicated and interacted as that is often a difficulty between departments in a company, especially technical. It being a small company means we can easily talk, and bounce ideas off each other, and provide a different perspective on all the various things going on. It has also given me much more of an appreciation of what's required for marketing and sales which feeds back into being able to make the technical side better and more in tune with the company's thinking and approach.

My company has made a real effort to help us develop and improve in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

There is a great deal of debate over unpaid interns currently but I can definitely say that I have benefited from my time so far (and it isn't over yet). My company has made a real effort to help us develop and improve in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We can easily approach my boss with business ideas if we feel the urge; as we come from different backgrounds, our approaches and ideas can provide new and interesting avenues for discussion.

One of the major reasons to become an intern is to get a good reference and this will be much more certain and glowing if you are reliable.

We have had a few interns come and go while I've been working for Xylyx and some of the main things I have noticed is how bad people can be at communicating. If you can't make it in one day, or you're going to be late, or something is stopping you from completing an assignment, it is so much easier to mention it straight away. Don't feel bad about it, don't forget until it's too late. One of the major reasons to become an intern is to get a good reference and this will be much more certain and glowing if you are reliable. I have found that with the relaxed approach to interns it doesn't matter if you miss a day or two, or you have some problems, as long as you're honest about it and let people know. It makes everyone's lives so much easier. Make sure you get a friend or a parent or someone to check your spelling and grammar as well!

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Startup Secret Santa: Wacky Gift Ideas For Your (Future) Work Mates Posted on Friday 16 December 2011 at 13:28PM by trrpaipai

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Whether you work in a startup already or are planning to in the future you will need to show off your creativity by any possible means. Enternships will give you a hand with this and spill the beans about this year’s Christmas gift ideas that will make the guys at work nominate you for the most original Secret Santa ever.

And because working in a startup actually allows you to get to know everyone in the team, make sure you don’t just go for the generic funny office present. Not saying they don’t make cool gifts, but at least try and make it a bit more personal.

You spend about 8 hours a day with them, you must surely have noticed some of their quirks. What does that person like? What are their day-to-day habits or topics they like to brag about? What are their near-future plans? Where do they like to go in their lunch break? What are they always getting when you go for drinks after work?

With just a couple of twists you can easily find something that will put a smile on your colleagues’ faces. Here are a few suggestions which you can conveniently customize to fit each person in part and because the work they’re doing says a lot about their personality we broke everything down to roles:

The Founder. She started a business from scratch therefore she must be very driven, innovative and passionate about what she does. These rare specimens will be very busy people and need something that can help them organise their schedule but everything has moved online now so they must surely have an app for that. Well, it’s also winter and when travelling they will probably want to keep their hands warm but be able to quickly handle the phone when needed too.

In this case why not get them a pair of gloves that lets them use any touchscreen device as if using their fingers. We found a pair over here and they’re under a tenner too!

 

 

The developer. I know what you think: ‘This is easy! Just get them a geeky computer thing or a video game and that’s that!’ Think about it, this is what everyone else is expecting you to do, right? Why not surprise them buy getting something a bit less digital that will still reflect their artificial intelligence interests.

How about this Earth-friendly robot made with sustainably harvested cherry wood inspired by the Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles. A far cry from the normal plastic and battery-powered robot army, the Cubebot will be there for him whenever his coding stress levels threaten to hit the red spot.

The Social Media Guru. Forget what I said earlier, in this case you are allowed to be predictable. These guys are the all-talkers, all-knowers and most probably the all-likers too. We thought it would be a cool idea to enable them to ‘like’ stuff in the real world too and keep the Zuckerberg signature at the same time. This set of Like and Dislike stamps should prove quite in handy for that – just cross your fingers he’ll use the right stamp on your Xmas postcard!

 

 

 

The COO. They are the hands-on people: speak typography and colour alignment and they’ll think you’re bluffing. Lists, planning and managing are more likely to spring up in their vocabulary so make sure you keep that in mind. These guys are like the engine that keeps everything up and running, the control tower that overlooks all operations on ground and above.

Wouldn’t it be super useful if they had a universal device to let them run the entire show with the click of a button? I bet COOs are not the only ones interested in something like that but in the meantime you can make them their very own universal remote control keychain that will at least allow them to turn off that annoying track playing on the pub’s radio.

 

 

The Interns. These guys are here to learn. Admit, you’ve one been in their shoes and it wasn’t very pleasant to always feel watched and analysed and wondering whether the work you’re doing is right. Give them a confidence boost with these magic illusions cards that will make them feel like they’re the ones who hold the secret wisdom for once.

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Enternships Case Study: A Financial Story Posted on Monday 12 December 2011 at 12:08PM by trrpaipai

Enock Koola is a former intern at Amoo Venture Capital Advisory, a boutique firm supporting pre- and post-VC technology startups with strategic direction and business development. He has taken the time to answer a few questions, revealing how his enternship lead him to be offered a full-time position in a funky financial firm.

How did you come across Enternships?

I was referred on to the website by a friend. He had used it and thought it would be a good tool to use in search of a summer internship.

What made you decide to do an internship?

I was interested in VC/PE and felt an internship will provide me with insight on how either VC/PE work and whether it was a perfect suit for me.

What are the challenges you’re facing when looking for an internship? What’s the most difficult part?

The most challenging issue is finding the right internship to apply for. There aren’t many internship programs for working in the PE/VC sector.

How did you go about the application? How do you usually prepare your job applications?

I made sure I had done my homework. I researched and studied the company to know more about the role and the company. I kept up with the latest global financial news.  I made a specific CV and Cover letter to the companies I was applying to in order show my understanding of their businesses.

What do you think is the most important part in a job application? What helped you get the internship you applied for?

In my opinion, making yourself aware of the business and role you are applying for and whether it suits you is a very important key step in getting the job. I got the job because I researched the company and the position and I was very passionate about VC which I think came across in the interview.

What are the top 3 things you’re looking for on an employer’s profile/internship listing?/Why did you choose to intern at Amoo?

1. Track Record
2. Early responsibilities
3. Long term goals

I chose to intern at Amoo VC Advisory as I believed it was a great opportunity to learn more about VC, opportunity to work on real live projects and because the company was small, I believed I would get more responsibility and possibly even manage my own project. In addition after my interview and meeting the director and associate, I liked the atmosphere and the long term plans for the company.

What was your role there? What kind of projects did you work on?

I applied for the sales & research analyst role; this involved working on live projects. Some of my key tasks included analysing business plans, building financial models for start-ups and supporting entrepreneurs in their fund raising process. Furthermore I attended several tech events a week and this provided me the opportunity to interact and meet very inspiring entrepreneurs.

Has the enternship helped you get closer to your career goals? If so, how?

My career goal is to one-day start my own fund with an African focus. The internship allowed me to work with smart, creative and innovate people, gave me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of VC and how they work.  I enjoyed working in the VC environment and supporting clients through their different fund raising round. The internship ignited my entrepreneurship spirit and has fuelled my desire to start my own firm.

Was the internship worth it, would you do it all over again if you could go back in time or is there something you would change?

The entire experience was a blessing and I am grateful for that opportunity as I learnt valuable transferable skills. I would definitely do it all over again and again.

What would be your best piece of advice to give other students/graduates looking for internships?

Internships are good as they give you an insight and the opportunity to realise, adjust, and validate your career goals.  Sometimes we are not sure what exactly we want to do and doing an internship allows you to see whether the role suits you and if it is the right lifestyle for you.  Moreover employers nowadays look for graduates with experience so doing an internship gives you a competitive advantage over the other graduates.

What do you think about the work Enternships is doing in helping students finding internships?

I think it is great what Enternships is trying to do; it allows students to discover their entrepreneurship spirit working with small and dynamic businesses. Especially nowadays where unemployment is at an all-time high, we need such platforms like Enternships to help students get internships.

What is your piece of advice for us at Enternships? Is there anything we could improve on to help candidates in their internship seeking?

The website is great but I think the site could do with a better interface. Also there weren’t as many financial roles when I was applying. It will be good if Enternships could get even more mid-cap companies to recruit through their website.

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Start Your Own Business At Zero Cost Posted on Thursday 08 December 2011 at 11:49AM by trrpaipai

Ho ho ho! Christmas is just around the corner and it's a time when we all become more generous. So are the guys at Entrepreneur First, offering young graduates the chance to start their own business and receive all the support throughout their journey. Competition is fierce but with just enough determination and that little extra from Santa you're in for the challenge of your life. Read on and apply!

If you're a recent graduate and you know you can "put a ding in the universe", Entrepreneur First is for you. We take the country's most talented graduates and provide them with the tools, networks and resources they need to launch a high-growth startup.

This is not work experience or an internship; this is starting your own business from the very beginning.

You don't need a team and you don't need a ready-to-launch idea. We'll help you build both. We're looking for determination, passion and raw talent.

What you get:

• A top UK entrepreneur as a mentor
• Cutting-edge training delivered by entrepreneurs and investors
• Access to top-tier angels and venture capitalists
• An extraordinary peer group of other aspiring entrepreneurs
• It's completely free to participate (no cash fee, no equity taken) - but it will be tough, both to get selected and to succeed. If you have what it takes, make sure you apply online before December 31.

*About Entrepreneur First *

Entrepreneur First's mission is to make high-growth entrepreneurship the most exciting career option for top graduates. We provide a programme that supports recent graduates to build startups - from building a team and refining an idea to securing finance to scale up. 

Launched this year, Entrepreneur First is backed by Microsoft, Silicon Valley Bank and McKinsey, as well as some of the UK's top entrepreneurs. We're a not-for-profit funded entirely by sponsorship, so we can offer the programme completely free of charge to the most talented graduates.

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Enternships Q&A: How One Employer Deals With Internships Posted on Monday 05 December 2011 at 11:30AM by trrpaipai

Candidates look out, some really useful advice here! Enternships has paid Amoo Venture a visit to ask founders Nzube Ufodike and Alexey Buditskiy what is their approach on internships.

What are the top 3 qualities you’re looking for in an intern?  Resourcefulness, Commercial awareness, Technology savvy.

What do you look at first in a CV?  Experience and Qualifications.

What would really impress you in an application?  Fantastic grades, language skills and stuff done outside of the normal academic curriculum.

What would be a big mistake in an application?  Poor spelling or grammatical errors.

What’s your advice for interns? What’s your advice for other employers looking to hire an intern?  Manage each other’s expectations from the start.

How do you go through the process of shortlisting candidates?  Three step process. Phone interviews are scheduled. Successful candidates then go on to a face to face panel interview.

Once you’ve chosen your intern, what happens next?  First week is an induction and we quickly ramp up to full BAU and project work by the third week. That said, I have actually been known to ask an intern to shadow a client meeting and summarise a business plan on their first day!

How do you organise the internship? A variety of tasks and projects with weekly check point meetings to track progress and lessons learned.

What’s your advice to other employers regarding internships? It can be pretty challenging managing employees that do not have all the relevant knowledge. Best to quickly asses how much they actually know by throwing them into the deep end. However, only do this if you are able to expect the worst without blowing a fuse.

What happens when the internship is finished?  Exit presentations are delivered by the intern to the rest of the firm, and a one-on-one exit interview conducted where we go through the interns feedback.

Advice for other start-ups?  Hire slowly and fire quickly.

What do you think about Enternships and the work we’re trying to do, in helping all young people to get inspired and achieve success? Lifesaver!

Amoo is a trailblazing boutique firm, supporting pre- and post-VC technology startups with strategic direction and business development. Nzube Ufodike  founded Amoo Venture Capital Advisory in 2009 together with Alexey Buditskiy to support start-ups seeking growth capital. Nzube is an entrepreneur. His professional experience covers entrepreneurship and finance and Alexey co-authored the book “Market Valuation of a Commercial Bank” and has written numerous articles on Finance and Management in leading academic and trade journals.

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Friday Fun: Lunch Breaks. To Take Or Not To Take? Posted on Friday 02 December 2011 at 15:02PM by trrpaipai

Oh how I love the early office concerto every day around 11AM… That’s about the time when everyone has already digested their breakfast and starts to get hungry again… A musical splendour to all of our ears that makes at least one of our Enternships team member take a trip to the kitchen to fool the old breadbasket.

All this grumbling serves one purpose only: to remind us lunch is on its way! And we sit and impatiently wait for that clock to strike 1pm when we can finally pamper ourselves to some delightful sandwich (or burrito – according to the latest London fancy for Mexican). You can actually hear the hands of the clock sssslllooooowwwllyyyy moving to the right…the pain!

And then you get yourself together and get going on some work immersion. Suddenly the job matrix has got to you and when you get out of it you realise it’s already 3pm. Wait a sec, what happened to all that slo-mo ticking clock? Too late, what’s the point of having lunch now?

The thing is, there is a point! Firstly, you need those calories to keep you going through the day at a productive pace and rebank the nutrients that got depleted. Secondly, you need the good calories! When you don’t eat lunch, you are more likely to snack during the day on unhealthy foods, or overeat at suppertime. We don’t want that do we?

A survey by Monarch Airlines found that as many as 58% employees in the UK take 30 minutes or less for their lunch break, while almost 6% of workers snatch just 10 minutes. Now that’s what I call a workaholic!

I know all of us are really passionate about what we do because startup life is so cool and challenging but we must keep in mind the fact that we aren’t some magical machines that run on thin air. We need fuel. Some of it is food for thought but before we get there we need some food for body. And that means not skipping lunch. Or any other meal for that matter.

Here’s my awesome 1-2-3 why

1. Food is delicious. I love food and I love exploring all types. I get excited about each and every bite and never leave anything on my plate. I make sure my food is decently fresh and tasty. That means quality beats quantity - the classic gourmet vs gourmand battle. Take the French path, enjoy your meal, top it with a dessert if that's what makes you happy.

2. Food is nutritious. Ok, so perhaps you’re one of those rare types who don’t really enjoy the taste of food that much (bless!). In this case, think about your body as an engine that needs gas to keep on working. It can work on water too but then it will have to take twice as long to get the same thing done. Don’t kill the productivity!

3. Food is fun. When I say that I really mean it. There’s loads of fun in cooking it and eating it but most of all, in burning the calories out of it. I like lunch breaks because they remind me that I haven’t taken my stroll or that I haven’t smiled at a new person that day (it’s on my daily to-do list!). Don’t look at the lunch break as a burden in your busy schedule: it’s your chance to have some quality ‘me’ time and get some more inspiration rolling for the rest of the day! So who are you in this daily battle for lunch? The luncher or the muncher?

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