How to Apply for an Internship at UNISA

UNISA offers students and recent graduates a chance to gain necessary field experience as an intern. Internships serve to expose and train you in the relevant skills for your career. If you follow the right steps, you can find that getting accepted as an intern at UNISA is a fairly simple process. This article shows how to apply for an internship with UNISA and increase your chances of landing the opportunity.

1. Types of Internships
UNISA offers internship programs in different departments and fields of study. Internships are mostly available for students under the following categories:

Undergraduate Internships: Internships for students who have completed one or two years of their studies at UNISA.
Graduate Internships: Graduate internships for anyone who has graduated in the past 18 months and is interested in gaining work-related experience in the same field.
External Internships: UNISA collaborates with organizations external to UNISA for internship placements for the UNISA students.
Determine the types of internships available and the educational and career ideas the internship fits into.

2. Get Your Documents Ready
The very first thing is to prepare all essential documents for applying. Some of the basic documents include:

Curriculum Vitae (CV): Your CV should state your educational background, work experience (if any), and skill sets that are relevant to the internship. Tailor your CV to suit the internship to which you are applying.
Cover Letter: To get you noticed, your cover letter has to eloquently state your interests in the internship and how they fit into your career aspirations.
Academic Transcripts: UNISA may need you to prove your academic status so they could be assured that you actually possess the minimum requirements for the internship.
References: For this, refer to a minimum of two referees. Whenever possible, ask instructors or employers who are able to vouch for the applicant’s abilities and work ethic.
3. Check Out the UNISA Internship Portal
UNISA has a portal for internship allocation where they advertise available internship opportunities. To carry on with internship application:

Go to the UNISA site.
Search for the “Careers”/”Internship Opportunities” link found nested inside either “Students” or “About UNISA” sections.
Browse the available positions for one that matches your qualification as well as your interests.
4. Read the Internship Advertisement Carefully
Each internship advertisement will have its own unique requirements and instructions. Reading through the internship advertisement will ensure that you understand:

the qualifications and skills required;
the date by which an application needs to be submitted;
the procedure for application including specific instructions;
period of internship and date of commencement.
Should you have uncertainties about any of the requirements, do not hesitate to contact the UNISA internship office for some assistance.

5. Application Submission
Most applications for UNISA internship opportunities can be completed online from the university intern web portal. However, some internship positions require application through other avenues; such as email or third party website posting. When applying for internships, make sure that you:

Attach all required documents (CV, Cover Letter; Transcripts, etc).
Double check that you follow precisely instructions in the advertisement of the job.
Ensure contact information is updated in case you qualify for an interview.
6. Prepare for an interview
Once your application is shortlisted, they will invite you for an interview. Thus, it is wise to prepare a lot so that they will be impressed by you. Here are some ideas to help you for your interview:

Research the Department: Understand the department or team that you would be applying for. Knowing their work and values helps you to fine-tune your responses.
Show Enthusiasm: You come and talk about your want to learn and add more value to the organization. Most internships are about experience in the close, so you have to show a willingness to learn.
Ask Questions: At the end of the interview, ask some learning-related questions about the internship expectations and future prospects.
7. Wait for Feedback
The university will inform you if you have been selected for the internship position after the interview. This process takes weeks, depending on the number of applicants and the needs of the department. If you don’t hear anything after a while, it’s okay to send a polite follow-up email to ask for the status of your application.

8. Internship acceptance
If you receive an internship offer, it is usually accompanied by a formal offer letter or email stating the date of commencement, duration, stipend (if any), and other pertinent details. As soon as you accept this offer, be ready for the paperwork and orientation prior to your internship.

9. Support for the Internship
Once the internship is confirmed, it is time to prepare well:

Review the Internship Requirements: Familiarize yourself with specific expectations such as dress code, working hours, or tools and resources that will be required.
Set Really Clear Goals: Think of formulating personal goals for every internship that you will do. Consider what you will learn and how you will apply the acquired knowledge gained in class to the real world.
Plan Your Commute: If the internship is in person, you have to plan for commute and manage your time accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Applying for an internship at UNISA is one of the exciting and rewarding steps forward into your future career. If you are aware of the processes, prepare your application materials as you should, and go the extra mile to follow up in a professional manner, your chances of getting that internship to provide you with vital experiences can be pretty bright.

Good luck with your internship application at UNISA!