Chen Zengan, human resources manager at Boya Software, says working as interns can help graduates adapt more quickly to an office environment.

He says no matter how extraordinary a graduate's academic record, an internship can bridge the gap between campus and the real world.

"I learned how to master new technology in the shortest possible time, and how to find answers to problems via the Internet during my four-month internship," says Gao Tao, who joined Boya in July and works as a software engineer.

"It (the internship) also taught me teamwork."

The toughest work day Chen Lijiao had during her one-year internship, was when she worked non-stop for 14 hours, from 8 am to 10 pm, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

But she cherishes the experience, saying it helped her "realize the leap from theory to practice".

Huang Haidong started his career at an investment bank in Hong Kong this July. He credits the job offer, received early in December, to his earlier internship experiences.

Since the first semester of his junior year, the double major in economics and statistics from Peking University, interned at three foreign companies and a government organization.

He says diverse experiences like his can help graduates understand whether their capabilities match the job responsibilities. He says people sometimes quit their first jobs quickly because they overrate their skills.

To make the most out of internship opportunities, Huang says students should communicate more with workmates and their supervisors.

He also warns against competing with your classmates who may be working at better companies.

"The most important thing is to commit yourself totally to your current job," he says.

"Acknowledgement and appreciation will automatically bring more career opportunities."

China Daily

(China Daily 08/11/2011 page19)