Quality Assurance Standards for Successful Internships
Internships serve not only as a means of career orientation for students. In addition, the mandatory internship offers the opportunity to start preparing for a specific professional field or role. However, making use of this opportunity requires an in-depth reflection on the potential tasks and responsibilities of the intended internship and on your own career goals.
Degree programs and institutes have developed various procedures and processes to assess the quality of internships. Therefore, always consult the internship coordinators responsible. A list of contact persons in each department can be found on our website at:
→ www.uni-bremen.de/en/career-center/services/downloads and www.uni-bremen.de/career-center/angebote/downloads and
Practice & Counselling Contacts in the Faculties of the University of Bremen :
→ www.uni-bremen.de/en/career-center/services/downloads and www.uni-bremen.de/en/studies/starting-your-studies/practice-oriented-studies
Important questions that may help:
- Which professional fields are of particular importance from your current perspective?
- Which companies or institutions would you like to get to know in this context, and why?
- Which key competencies and subject-specific skills do you believe especially distinguish you?
- Which (independent) tasks and areas of responsibility have already been discussed with your internship provider?
- Which of the mentioned key competencies and subject-specific skills will be particularly relevant when performing the agreed tasks?
- What added value do you believe to gain by the end of your internship?
This set of questions also gives you the opportunity to consider and incorporate all essential aspects needed for a successful mandatory internship in your planning process in advance.
During a mandatory internship, a supervisor from your institute or degree program will support you. This person will assist you with any questions regarding the university’s requirements for completing an internship.
A key component of a mandatory internship is the subsequent internship report.
A general recommendation is to align your application documents' language (cover letter and CV) with the language of the job advertisement. Otherwise, especially in ATS (Applicant Tracking System) processes, there is a high risk that your application may not be recognized as relevant. As a non-native speaker, it may be advisable to have your documents proofread by a native speaker or to use software tools to check spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Additionally, it is particularly important to include all languages spoken along with your proficiency levels within your CV. Relevant language certificates should only be attached as part of your certificates document if they reflect your current level of proficiency.
If you choose to include your grades in the education section of your CV (optional), it is recommended that you first state the original grade and then provide the equivalent according to the German grading system if your grade comes from a non-German system.
If you have official translations of foreign degrees or documents—such as those obtained during your university application process—it is advisable to include both the original and the official translation in your submitted certificates (if the original is not in German or English).
In Germany, it is standard practice to receive employer references for every employment. Therefore, employers usually expect these references to be included in your application if you have professional experience. If you have gained work experience abroad, you may not have received a document comparable to the German system. In this case, you can use an appropriate alternative, such as letters of recommendation, if available.
Content
Do I have to do an internship?
- Exploratory Internships
- Professional Internships
- Mandatory Internship
- Voluntary Internship
- Time Planning
- Checklist for download
- a) Profile Analysis
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- b) Time Management
- c) Framework Conditions
- Checklists for Download
How do I find a suitable internship?
- University of Bremen
- Other Job Advertisements
- Company Databases on the Internet
- Trade and Industry Fairs / Company Contact Fairs
- Trade Journals, Magazines and Daily Newspapers
- Manuals and Reference Books
- Professional Associations and Networks
- Specific tips for international students
- Checklist for download
- Should I just call employers?
- Application
- a) Cover Letter
- b) Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- c) Certificates and Transcripts
- Application by Email
- Checklists for download
Quality Assurance Standards for Successful Internships
- Special Notes for International Students
- Insurance Requirements
- Mandatory Internships
- Voluntary Internships
- Pre- and Post-Study Internships
- Other Information
- Useful Information for International Students
- Internship Contract – Key Provisions
- Working Hours
- Creating a Work or Training Plan
- Liability Issues
- Illness
- Termination
- Accident Insurance
- Vacation Entitlement
- Remuneration and Minimum Wage
- Internship Certificate
- Checklists for download