My Internship at the Czech Academy of Sciences

Fortunately, students at Charles University in Prague are equipped with an array of resources and support networks to ease their academic journey and foster professional growth. This semester, I embarked on a Research Assistantship intern role at the esteemed Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences - an opportunity I'm thrilled to share my experiences with you today.

You might be wondering how one goes about finding internships and engaging in research opportunities while studying in Czechia. What can one expect from such experiences, and what compensation options are available? I'll guide you through these queries and more in this blog by running you through my experience so far (expectations, day-to-day, and compensation) and sharing some tips on finding and securing internships in Czechia and abroad!

For starters, I have been recruited as a Research Assistant for a huge, longitudinal study on high school students across not only Czechia. My responsibility surrounds collecting key literature review data for a specific research topic related to the overall study. There are many reasons I chose to apply for this role, but one aspect that is especially influential is that I am largely considering returning to academia by getting a Master’s or PhD. What does this have to do with my research role? Well, in order to get accepted to higher education programs, rigorous research experience is expected! However, this internship will also open doors outside of academia since it is work experience.

I and two other students are working side-by-side and being guided by the expertise of two supervisors. In this sense, we are helping them write their literature review and gaining skills on applying these skills in future work (or, in my case, tips for thesis writing!).

The internship is also hybrid, as most work is done nowadays, which is a huge relief! While I enjoy visiting our office beside the Vltava River, sometimes submitting work virtually is all I can handle, considering my busy schedule. So, although I have a lot on my plate this semester, my internship supervisors have been very supportive, letting me work the hours I prefer, setting realistic deadlines that align with both of our schedules and so on.

While gaining experience is valuable, being compensated for hard work is certainly rewarding. At Charles University, doing an internship through our college means we get to choose from two forms of compensation, either a long-term, 150 hours internship for credit hours (yes, they count towards your degree!) or a short-term, 30-hour internship for 200 CZK an hour (standard wage). It ultimately depends on your situation and preferences - your choice! Since I completed my credits for graduation, I chose the latter, but if you perhaps prefer gaining work experience instead of just studying, you do not have to worry about balancing studies and jobs since our university recognizes your efforts as part of your degree.

So, how does one come across these opportunities? In Czechia, each university and faculty/department within the university offers different opportunities. While some focus on clubs and student activities, others are more focused on job fairs and workshops. At the Faculty of Social Sciences (English parallel), we have a regularly updated spreadsheet where professors and other related advisors fill in available roles, along with the duration, topic, contact person, and other information needed. In this sense, applying for an internship is literally just one email away. Other than this, there is a list of inter-mobility programs whereby students are encouraged to work in partner organizations or companies, take summer courses at select schools, and attend specific events promoted within our campus.

I will admit it was not always this easy. However, within the 2.5 years I have been studying, the improvement is clear - since raising this issue to our guarantors, a lot has changed for the better! The biggest evidence of this is that both students who are participating in the Research Assistantship internship with me are first-year students.

What is perhaps more challenging is whether you actually get the internship. For this, I have three main tips that have worked every time for me:

1. Assess the situation. Does the topic, activity, and duration seem appealing to you and suit your schedule? If the answer to any of these is no, then you face the potential for burnout and risking leaving a poor impression with figures in the research community. Instead, spend more time actually researching what you want to do, and go for that.

2. Nail your first impression. It starts with sending a well-crafted email displaying your interest and knowledge of the internship you want to participate in (with some questions if possible!), briefly stating your qualifications (remaining humble is crucial here), and finally, inquiring whether the position is still available and that you would love to contribute. Also, make sure you insist on having an introductory meeting to discuss your role further so that you do not disappoint. And please, do not be late for that first meeting, no matter what!

3. Demonstrate your enthusiasm and willingness to learn. During the interview or introductory meeting, express your genuine excitement about the opportunity and your eagerness to contribute. Highlight any relevant experiences or skills you possess, but also emphasize your willingness to learn and adapt. Most importantly, be open about any weak points that you would like to improve on so they can gauge how much to put on your plate.

Well, I hope that this blog was helpful to you in knowing what a Social Sciences internship might look like, where to find it, and how to secure it! While I am in the midst of a hectic semester, I am trying to turn those nerves into excitement over what’s next.