FAQ During Internship

What needs to be ready for the first day of my internship?

Please ensure that your internship is registered with AUP and that you have the required paperwork to start your internship.

The employer may have asked you to provide them with a list of documents.

  • For proof of health coverage, please contact: healthataup.edu
  • For proof of civil liability coverage, please contact: internshipataup.edu  
  • If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact: internshipataup.edu  

Get in touch with your internship supervisor verify what time you should come in on your first day.

Dress smartly for your first day, unless you had already discussed the dress code of the organization during the interview. You can adjust after a few days once you have a better sense of what is expected of you.

 

What is going to happen during the first day(s) and week(s) of my internship?

Each internship and employer is different. It is difficult to predict how the beginning of your internship will go. Your first few days or weeks may be rather slow, or you may be off to a flying start. Each internship supervisor handles the situation differently: some prefer to gradually give more and more responsibilities to their intern while others want them to be independent from day one.

Don’t hesitate to speak out if you have any questions or any concerns, but also remain patient and focused.

Advice for your first day

  • Bring an agenda or a notebook with you,
  • If you are interning in a French company but don’t speak much French, try to make the effort of saying a few words in French. It will help break the ice and will be much appreciated,
  • Review your internship description with your supervisor to ensure you are both on the same page. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and take notes as he/she introduces you to your role,
  • Enquiry about the corporate culture such as rules of politeness between colleagues, dress code, etc.
  • Ask practical questions – either to your internship supervisor or the HR team – such as rules applying to lunch hours, discuss the policy regarding potential days off with your internship supervisor, ask if you need to provide any sort of documents (if you were not asked to bring any with you), etc.,
  • Don’t hesitate to ask to be introduced to the extended team if your internship supervisor does not spontaneously do it,
  • Be curious about your colleagues’ jobs and situations.

 

Is the working culture any different in France? Should I expect to be surprised or shocked?

Yes, working cultures vary from one country to another. Work relationships in France tend to be more formal than in other countries and by default the “vous” is used instead of the “tu”. At first, try to call people by their last names (i.e. Mrs. or Mme. Petit) instead of using their first names (i.e. Marie). Often, it is expected of interns to request a meeting with their internship supervisor if they would like to discuss something important with him/her. Nonetheless, it is true that corporate cultures vary from one organization to the other. Small NGOs and big corporations do not function the same way. Observe, learn and adapt!

One important note however: French internship supervisors are not renowned for using superlatives. Do not alarm yourself! On the contrary, expect feedback about what you did wrong or what you could improve to come your way. It is common practice in France and it is considered part of the learning process.

Be patient and don’t hesitate to express your opinion in a polite and respectful way.

If you are unsure about how to react or if you have any questions, give a call to the Internship Coordinator at: 01.40.62.06.25

 

What should I keep in mind during my internship?

  • Take notes about your internship experience to facilitate the completion of your internship assignments. All students who register an internship with AUP must submit an informational interview. We advise that you conduct it during the internship, not afterwards. If you are required to write an internship report, we encourage you to discuss potential confidentiality-related restrictions with your supervisor at the start of the internship to avoid having to re-write some of your report only a few days before your submission deadline. More information about internship assignments may be found here.

  • Network

  • If you want a job offer or to stay in France after your internship, remember to research visa requirements applicable to your situation.
  • Work hard. However, if you think that your internship workload is negatively impacting on your academic performance at AUP, please contact the Internship Office to discuss potential solutions.
  • You are representing AUP during the entire length of your internship and your actions will have consequences on the ability of other AUP students to secure an internship or a job at the company for which you are interning. Remember that by registering your internship with AUP you have agreed to adhere to the company/organization’s guidelines for employee behavior and the University’s standard of conduct at all times.
  • If you have signed a confidentiality agreement, take it very seriously.  Legal actions may result for failing to do so. If you have any questions, please be in touch with the Internship Office.

 

I would like to request a day off, what should I do?

In certain cases – internships lasting more than 44 days, or when mentioned on the convention de stage for internships lasting less than 44 days – interns are legally entitled to request days off in France. Granting these days is at the full discretion of the employer and, if days-off are granted, the employer does not have to pay you during your days of leave. You should discuss days-off with your internship supervisor as early as possible.

 

I am ill or I have hurt myself during the internship, what should I do?

If you are feeling unwell and cannot go to work, please make sure to contact your internship supervisor – if not, it will be considered as an unjustified absence. Unless being specifically told otherwise, you will not need to obtain any certificate from a doctor for a 24-hour absence. However, if you are ill for more than 24 hours, you will need to see a doctor to ask for a certificate (arret de travail).

If you hurt yourself on the way to the organization, during the internship or on the way home, please note that it is considered as a work accident in France. In such cases, you must contact your internship supervisor and the Internship Office.

 

I am encountering an issue during my internship, who should I contact?

The Internship Office is always available to answer your questions.

You must inform AUP of any serious health, work-related or family-related problems which occur during your internship so we can provide help and support, and be in contact with your supervisor if needed.

We treat any personal information with extreme care and never release it to your internship supervisor without prior consent.

 

I would like to extend the duration of my internship, what should I do?

If you wish to extend the duration of your internship, please contact the Internship Coordinator to discuss details and see if or under what conditions this is feasible.

 

I need to terminate my internship earlier than planned, what is the procedure?

If you would like to end your internship earlier than planned for any given reason, please contact the Internship Coordinator to discuss your situation. Be aware this is not automatic.

 

What should I do towards the end of my internship? How can I best prepare for the next step?

Don’t hesitate to ask for an internship certificate. You are legally entitled to it.

In addition, we strongly encourage you to ask your internship supervisor if he/she would consider recommending you for another internship or for a job in the (near) future.

In preparation of a discussion regarding your future employment by the hosting organization, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Internship Office or the Career Development Office. We advise that you also research visa requirements applying to your case.

The Career and Internship Advising Offices are also available to help with your resume/CV as you have started to apply to jobs.

 

What should I do after the end of my internship?

All students are required to submit assignments by a set deadline following the end of their internship. Failing to do so will have academic consequences. Please have a look at the appropriate brochure on the Internship Assignments page.

We also strongly encourage you to book an appointment to debrief your internship experience and to update your resume/CV, update your LinkedIn profile, figure out your next academic and professional steps, create an e-portfolio to attract potential employers, etc.

Keep in touch with your internship supervisor and colleagues after the end of the internship. It may prove very useful in the future.