Prarthana Pearl Pradhan is from Patna, Bihar. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. She is in her second year. Prarthana has worked as an Internal and External Communications intern at Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, which is commonly known as “Jeevika.”
How did you get the internship? Can you tell me about the selection process?
I took up an internship at the Communications department of the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, commonly known as “Jeevika”. There wasn’t a selection process as such, because I had directly approached the “Jeevika” office with my resume and interest in the field. After my visit, I was called for an interview and then subsequently, chosen to be an intern with them.
What was your title and responsibility during this internship?
I was working as an Internal and external communications Intern. My responsibility is to assist the senior officials in matters of communication with the Bihar Government and the Society of Bihar. In internal communications, I helped to translate Hindi case studies into English and recorded an information capsule for their program called “Mobile Vaani”. In external communications, I documented the workings of “Didi ki Rasoi”, a canteen initiative by Jeevika, and interviewed the “didis” working there.
What challenges did you face in getting this internship?
I wanted to get an internship specifically in the field of communications. For this reason, I had to research a bit and ask around a lot of people before I discovered “Jeevika”.
What kind of skills/characteristics are needed for this role?
As a communications intern, you need to have an eagerness to learn and work, confidence in your abilities to converse and write, and a spirit for amiably working with a team.
How was your overall experience during this internship?
I thoroughly enjoyed my period of internship as it was an area of my interest. I enjoyed meeting new people, getting to know how “Jeevika” had helped them live a better life and I got a glimpse of how the Bihar Government works too.
What was your stipend/ salary range during this internship? What kind of benefits did you get?
This was an unpaid internship. My goal was to get experience and understand the workings of such an organization. By the end of this internship, I achieved my primary goal.
What do you think is a decent stipend during the internship which would interest students? Can you give a range?
I think students would be motivated by a stipend of around Rs.2k - 3k per month.
Do you think an internship is important for students? If yes, why?
In my opinion, the importance of an internship lies in the career that you ultimately want to pursue. If your future career demands experience, then taking on internships is the right thing to do.
What suggestions can you give to fresh grads/students who want to apply for internships?
I would like to suggest that they should be eager and vigilant. Do not just take on internships for the sake of it. Find your area of interest that will motivate you to do work.