Stuff about campus internships
A little list to help you through the process
This article is addressed to the 2025 batch of IIT (BHU) Varanasi. Only proceed if you find the subject relevant.
It’s that time of the year again. You will reckon with your dreams for the first time, and surprises will be waiting. It’s your first real tryst with the IIT dream, and, as all worthy things demand, the process is hard to crack even as the desired outcome is not guaranteed.
Having seen the process inside-out, I have some stuff to share.
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There’s a life beyond week-one
Give yourself time. Even in the best markets, the industry only has enough internships to accommodate a minority. It’s challenging to get an on-campus offer, even more so a week-one selection.
Should you then give up hope? No. By all means, prepare hard as you can for a week-one offer. But do not make your mental peace contingent on it. Prepare yourself to wait for some more weeks, even months, before you make it. Keep yourself open to external opportunities. Getting an internship offer late or off-campus is equally celebratory.
I earned my internship offer at Publicis Sapient only as late as October and still enjoyed the work and got a PPO. More impressively, a friend did not get an on-campus offer yet ended up with an off-campus PPO, even before I started my project.
Keep your spirits high.
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Get over PORs
So, you brought a crowd of one crore to Asia’s largest XYZ event, competing with the Kumbh Mela? Good job. Now please study.
The interviewer with not be impressed with charades if you don’t get the code running. They are experienced professionals, and they know what they are looking for. Despite what seniors had told you earlier, few recruiters care to read the POR section of the resume.
The only personality cut-off you need to clear is holding an English conversation well. Beyond that, the PORs come in handy for HR round small talk. But that comes after you’ve passed the tech round.
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Your TPRs are (very) frustrated
You would’ve come to understand the pressures involved in internship preparation. Imagine additionally verifying hundreds of resume fields, checking registration cards, and fielding doubts all day. Even if they do not let it on, your TPRs are probably tired already. Your batchmates are preparing for tests, while your seniors are worried about their PPOs.
The thing is, they’re the only ones with the experience and the ability to steer through the mess. And it is in your own best interest to take the unnecessary burden off their minds.
Ask your doubts in groups instead of calling, abide by the deadlines, and attend the meetings instead of troubling them over text. They’ll help you better if you ask for the right help.
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You pay for your tardiness
What do you think happens when you fill the POR form late, or get the willingness deadline extended? I’ll tell you. You ensure that the recruiters get your application late.
Now, the same recruiter usually visits multiple campuses around the same timeline. Late information from us provides other campuses with a competitive advantage. You’re smart enough to figure out the rest.
Laziness comes with a hidden cost.
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Luck matters
As with any human enterprise, luck has a role in getting internships. An interview may go bad because of a splintering headache from a lack of sleep or because the interviewer was in a bad mood. Situations are real, and they’re part of the process.
Keep your mind open. Work on your LinkedIn profile, check for off-campus opportunities and reach out to alums and executives. Give yourself a cushion against failure, and put your eggs in different baskets.
Take your best shot at a campus internship, but be on the lookout for good off-campus listings.
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Internships are not the end-game
Campus internship offers are mostly coveted for the enhanced chances of a PPO, the holy grail that saves you months of placement stress. But summer internships are no deal-breakers during placement interviews.
It is equally possible to land your dream placement offer even if you’ve undergone a less prestigious internship program. And as long as you have good technical skills and an okay-ish command of English, you’re good.
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Writing this article brought back a wind of nostalgia. I can preach all that gyan because I’m through. But all that I said comes from experience, and I hope it helps you navigate the stress a little better.
Thanks for reading, and all the best!
