Choose an internship that is worth your time.

What a good internship looks like

• A clear role and the work you will actually do.
• A named company with a real website and a contact person.
• A stipend, or at least clear learning, a certificate and a letter at the end.
• A defined start date, duration and working hours.
• Someone who will guide you, not only give you routine tasks.

Red flags: walk away if you see these

• They ask for money: a fee, deposit, kit or registration charge.
• They contact you only on WhatsApp and will not share a company website.
• The role and the work are vague.
• They promise a job or a very high stipend for no work.
• They ask for your bank details, OTP or Aadhaar number before you are selected.

How to write your application

• Keep it short: three to five lines.
• Say who you are: your course, college and year.
• Say why this role and this company.
• Name one thing you can already do, such as a project, a course or a skill.
• Attach a one-page resume and check the spelling.

Before you say yes

• Search the company name and read what others say.
• Ask what you will do in week one.
• Ask whether there is a stipend and a certificate.
• Tell a family member or friend where you are going.
• Never pay to start.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. If a company asks you for money, do not pay; you can report it to your college placement cell.