BULGARIA | Internship: At work | Applying for an internship
Documents
When applying for an internship, an e-mail with a cover letter and your CV, attached to it, is usually sufficient. You should call the company approximately two weeks later and ask about your application. This shows that you are really interested. Smaller companies don’t always advertise the internship positions so a speculative application is often successful – especially because there aren’t many applicants! Also on the AIESEC site (see the link below) you can see the positions available.
Your CV should be no longer than 2 pages. There are a few ways to organise the information you include in it. The most popular one is to start with the latest occupation and go backwards. Your relevant experience and education should be mentioned first and be easily seen – that’s what the prospective employer is looking for. It’s important to not leave any gaps in your work history that cannot be explained. Most of the potential employers ask for a photograph. It should be placed at the top of the CV. You don’t need to sign your CV since it’s not a letter you are writing to someone.
In your cover letter (1-2 pages) you should explain why you are applying for this position and why you think you are suitable for the job. The reasons should be job oriented (career) rather than personal. Do not forget to use the official addressing form Mr … or Mrs … (gospodin … or gospozho … ) or the academic title of the person who you are writing to (Dr ..., Professor …). If you do not have a contact name, use the phrase “Dear Sir or Madam” (Uvazhaemi gospodine / Uvazhaema gospozho).
If you are looking for a job, you should apply by sending the required papers via traditional mail. In the ads the companies usually mention what you need to send – most often a CV with a cover letter. If they decide to meet with you and talk, they will let you know what other documents you will need to prepare for the interview or after you meet with them.
Interview
When calling the company or during your interview you should be well prepared to answer questions on your career aspirations, previous work experience and your current activity. You should also be able to explain what you want to learn during your internship and how (with which skills and features: knowledge, experience, computer literacy, punctuality, motivation) you can benefit the company. You should try to find out information about the company where you are applying. Answer the questions as accurately and directly as possible. You can pose some questions as well – that shows your interest! You could also talk about your (internship) salary but it should not be the first point that you mention.