By Mrinalini Kaushik |
Are you still fetching coffees, stuck in the non-existent cubicle with the sound of printing machines buzzing like bees and the following silence that is deafening? Then it’s time that you realise, a successful career doesn’t start from the mainstream, it begins when you open yourself to experiences like never before. Out of the box thinking is encouraged nowadays, so why not take advantage of this opportunity to explore the unique you in the backdrop of the corporate world. The biggest companies are offering internships that are quirky and meaningful, across the globe.
Harley Davidson offered a 12-week internship to give hands-on experience in integrated marketing communications. The interns were given a Harley Davidson motorcycle, on which they had to journey across the United States of America and document their experience on videos, pictures etc. and share it on social media. At the end of the internship they were given the ownership of that motorcycle.
Most of these unusual internships offered an experience out of the box that one might have never experienced in the bounds of a cubicle. For more context, read along!
Indian Premier League collaborated with La Trobe Sport to offer an internship to students to work on the Kings XI Punjab team’s media, marketing, operations and sponsorship in India. It provided invaluable and ground-level work experience to young aspirants.
The Sierra Club, one of the oldest grassroot level environmental organisation in the U.S.A, offered an internship where the interns had to spend their days performing outdoor activities in the nature. For example, travelling through forests and mountains or boating in a river. They were asked to record these moments and share it on social media.
Noticing a trend in all these abovementioned internships, it’s safe to say that students are not the only ones feeling competitive. In today’s world, where the youth has become a tidal force, companies have realised their strength and benefits. They want to utilise this and take advantage of this symbiotic relationship. Therefore, students take up internships to learn and have the pressure of building a career taken off; and companies offer them this willingly.
But have you taken a moment to think about the fact that youngsters discover their potential when given an outlet and liberty, a space where they can let their thoughts know no bounds. But when confined to four walls, it can become restrictive. Trudging the worn and torn path of the others doesn’t help in harnessing and enhancing skills to achieve success. In an over populous world, it is difficult to stand out while doing what others have done.
For companies to achieve their goals, there is a need for creativity and lateral thinking. Therefore, companies have started going out of their comfort zone to become more supportive and encouraging; letting the tide reach its peak with proper guidance.
In India, with our demographic dividend, it is high time we realise that for us to become progressive and developed, we need to let the youth reach their potential by providing them with such creative and liberal internship platforms that offer not just steady jobs; but a promise to become more and be part of a revolution.
As Robert frost once said, “Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Companies have started to turn this quote into reality.
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