From Application to Signed Contract

August 2013

     I knew from the day I started on International Communication and Multimedia, that I wanted to do an internship during my 4th semester, there was no doubt about it, I wanted the work experience, and I still do. At first I wanted to apply for an internship at companies that produce computer games and do something with multimedia, and I did find a few that took in interns, but nothing that I would be able to do based on what I had been taught at ICM. It took many more hours of search to find just 2-3 game companies that would take in Graphical Marketing interns, and I decided to try them out, today only one of them have replied, and that was a no.

September 2013

     In September I changed my mind and started searching for board game companies instead, mainly in Germany. I found a few extra companies in Germany just to be sure I would get something, and finally sent out internship applications to about 30 companies; 18 of them was in form of a letter and the rest by mail or the companies own application system. One of the companies I applied at was Fantasy Flight Games, one of the leading companies in the world producing a wide variety of board games and roleplaying systems, and my first thought was that it couldn't do any harm, though I didn't expect them to reply.

     I remember each time that I finally got a letter in the mail box or an email, a response to one of my applications, I was so exited and was hoping eagerly that it would be a yes, but all of them was a no... and every time I felt very disappointed. But then a month after I sent the mail to Fantasy Flight Games, I got a positive response, it wasn't a yes, but I had finally gotten a foot in the door. I corresponded several times with my contact at FFG, presented a portofolio, made an assignment, had a phone interview and then, I was the lucky one to get the spot. I was so happy, I could barely get my hands down, I was going to the US!

October 2013

     FFG had some paperwork they needed to do before they could make it official, a background check, no problem I thought. I signed the papers they needed and when they came back cleared, I sent them the contract that I needed for the school. I searched for an organisation to get me a VISA (to get into the US as an intern you need a sponsor organisation that can give you the form you need to apply for the VISA), and after looking through a few of them, I found one that was especially meant for Scandinavian interns.

November 2013

     I tried not to be to exited, since the contract still hadn't been signed, but my mind was already set for the US. I looked for an apartment, looked at flight tickets and so forth, I even went to the bank to loan the money I needed for my budget to work out. Everything was more or less set and ready to be paid, all I needed was the contract, I didn't want to end up with problems or anything.

     Then the day my contact had promised me that he would send me the signed contract, he had scheduled a meeting with the CEO to get it signed and all, he sent me an email, telling me that they had to cancel the internship, with no explanation.

     I was devastated and angry, I cried and was really feeling down. I wrote my contact several times to get an answer for why they had to cancel, and if there was anything that could be done for them to change their mind. I felt desperate.

     A week went by before I finally got the answer, the paperwork needed to get me into the US that the sponsor organisation required of them, was to time consuming and expensive, there was nothing that could be done.

December 2013

I searched everywhere I could, I asked friends and family to ask around and send out my distress call for the internship spot that I needed. Almost anything would do, but still my mind kept going back to FFG and the US, and my disappointment. I wanted so dearly to go to the US or something else very far away, I didn't just want a spot in Europe. Of course I had a back up company in Denmark, but it just wasn't what I want to do once I have finished my bachelor. With a bit of help from my father and some of his contacts, I got a text message, suggesting that I try the organization InternChina.
     I took a look at their webpage, sent an application Sunday evening and told my boss at work, that if I didn't get anything by Monday, I would contact my back up company and sign a contract with them. Monday morning I had received a response from InternChina, that they had received my email and giving me suggestions for two internship spots. I read them and wrote back which one I liked the best, and they forwarded my application to them. Tuesday they had responded and wanted an interview with me, so we set up a time that same Tuesday, and by Friday they had agreed to have me and I sent them the contract that I needed signed. I crossed my fingers and hoped that they wouldn't change their mind, just like FFG did. Monday I received the contract, signed and all, ready to hand in to the school. Finally I had a host company for my internship, and it even sounded to me that I will be far more satisfied with the assignments given to me at International Futures, than I would ever have been at FFG.