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Internship Application
Hello, 20/m
I'm applying for an internship with a charity: they then put you with a leading politician for 9 months. It's great, because I've always wanted to do this, but a lack of money has always prevented me from doing so. This is paid, and so I'm trying to make my application perfect.
The problem is, how easily should I tell the truth? During my school years, I did the bare minimum to keep me going. I was literaly a straight B student. I got 1 A, and that was because my teacher pushed me. Even in that subject, I was 7 marks away from an A+. I asked my teacher, "Should I re-do it, and try and get the higher grade?" he replied "I don't care: You've gotten higher than the C you were predicted, and so It's really up to you because at least now the principle won't be breathing down my neck". Bad teaching, I know, but I decided to stick with the A. My science teacher also told me that if I just worked a little harder, I could get an A. I didn't listen, and stuck with my B.
In high school, I came out with mostly Cs and and a D. Again, I didn't really work as hard as I knew that I could.
Obviously I need to put my grades down, but should the explanation be "I was lazy, but I've changed". Because I believe I have. I've re-discovered my passion for learning, and regularly read old history and mathematics text books for pleasure. I've not had many jobs, but during my last one, the employer said that she had been doing her job for 13 years, and has never had an assistant as good as me. So yes, I believe I have changed, and I really enjoy working.
But should I say that I was lazy, and that I've now changed? Or will it put them off? I really need to stand out, because last year they received 30,000 applicants, and only selected 10.
Should I give them another reason for my poor grades? Any ideas?
Thanks, and apologies for it being so long.
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Did they ask for your highschool grades? 'Cause unless they did, there is no reason to be defining yourself by grades you earned 3 or more years ago.
They aren't a reflection of you anymore. At all. I had frighteningly high GPAs and even I took them off my resume after 12-18 months. They are the kind of thing you put on if you don't have anything else. Once you have a job, or two, you take them off. They stop being relevant.
So if you are required to put in as part of the application, don't give a 'reason' for poor grades. Just talk about the passion for self directed learning you found when you entered the workforce. Don't actually speak to your grades, speak to to what you've done since high school.
If you aren't required to put them in as part of your application, just don't.
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