Birmingham Business School’s MBA End of Study Internship scheme offers graduating MBA students the opportunity to apply for 12 week internships with a variety of UK employers to take place at the end of their degree studies.
Read on to hear more about the experience from the perspective of one of our alumni and employers who took part in the internships in 2023.
Srinarendiran Raman – MBA Graduate 2023
Tell us a bit about yourself and your internship
This is Srinarendiran Raman (Naren), BBS MBA alumnus 2022-2023. I got this life-changing opportunity of working with MasterQ, an ambitious education startup in Birmingham, as an intern through BBS MBA End of Study Internship. Thanks to BBS, especially Laura and others for arranging this opportunity. I must say this is one of the best decisions I've ever made as I've transformed greatly in all good ways I have never imagined, thanks to Dr. Jeevan who trusted me with this opportunity and walks along with me in every step like my own shadow, helping me reflect, think, and decide on every action I take personally and professionally.
How did you find your experience from the application point to completing the internship?
The process couldn't have been much easier. I only had to respond to 3 emails from Laura, the first to express my interest in the internship opportunity, the second to acknowledge that I've been selected as an intern, and the third is this very feedback email I'm responding to.
What did you gain from doing this internship?
- Friendship. First and foremost, I gained a friend for a lifetime.
- Mentorship. I'm a self-made person and for the first time have a mentor who gives me practical insights for everything there is in life.
- Perspectives. My friend and mentor, Dr. Jeevan, has given me fresh perspectives on life and career, with the biggest takeaways being that most of our actions are driven by evolutionary biology and most of our ideas are influenced by the society, and it is critical for an MBA, who manages businesses, to think independently and innovate so that one can be a creator rather than a sheep that follows its shepherd. This internship, because of Dr. Jeevan, has given me the ability, skills, and confidence to create my own business.
- Finally, I've got a wonderful team to work with, with Dr. Diya and Ali.
What advice would you give other students considering undertaking an MBA end of study internship?
From a life perspective, in Dr. Jeevan's own words, "Just go for every opportunity out there in life." You may get it or lose it, you may find the opportunity interesting or boring, but you gotta do it as it is the learning from the experience that matters. Dream big as there is no action without a dream. Face a lot of situations and people; this is the only way you can improve your soft skills which are a rarity in this AI era. From an MBA perspective, internships are guaranteed to improve your chances of getting placed as UK Companies look for UK work experience. Just go for it. It's not just an End of Study Internship, it's the Beginning of Real Life Internship in all ways.
Dr Jeevan Swamy – Director, MasterQ
How has your company benefitted from working with an MBA Intern?
Naren has become one of the integral cornerstones of our startup. His intelligence, flexibility and hunger to take on each and every challenge has allowed us to level up in ways we could not have imagined before.
He has brought his MBA nous to help streamline our operations and develop the departments at MasterQ that we previously did not have setup.
What do you think are the key benefits for an intern to work with a small business?
The greatest teacher in life is experience, and to develop this platitude with another. Variety is the spice of life. At a small business you will be asked to constantly creatively solve multiple problems, this will hone the higher meta cognitive skills of communication, leadership and emotional intelligence.
What was the biggest highlight of this internship?
Recruiting Naren to work with us on a full-time basis.
Would you recommend taking part in the MBA Internship scheme to other employers, and why?
Absolutely. The process was simple and seamless. Laura was fantastic and our intern, now employee was a game changer. Do it.