IT specialist helps students enter the workplace

By Michael Oriedo

Getting internship has become as hard as searching for a job.

Students often use proxies or send letters to various organisations requesting for attachment placement. But while these methods work for some, for others the exercise ends in frustrations as time allocated for the internship by their colleges and universities lapse without them finding an organisation to practice their skills.

Having experienced similar challenges, a young man is using the Internet to link students with organisations for attachment.

David Njoroge has developed a website, www.attachmentkenya.com, where organisations and students register for link-up .

David Njoroge says while attachment is a crucial part of learning many colleges do not help students get internships.[PHOTO: MICHEAL ORIEDO/STANDARD]

"Students register on the website for free and fill a form providing their details. They then upload their curriculum vitae which helps me link them with organisations looking for interns," he says.

Students also upload recommendation letters from their colleges and result slip of their last examinations .

Once students register, Njoroge says, he vets application considering their courses and where they live for easy placement.

"We ensure students get attachment in places they can be comfortable working and companies get the right people," he says.

Advertise internally

But while it is easy for him to get students looking for attachment getting internship places for them is his greatest challenge. "Most organisations prefer advertising internally or they do not advertise at all for attachment positions. This limits opportunities for those looking for attachment," he says.

Before coming up with the website, Njoroge visited several companies and colleges to learn how they handle internship.

"A manager at a sales company I visited informed me they receive many applications letters from students but rarely go through them. Most of the interns who go there are brought by employees," he says.

Before learning about the website, she used to ask her friends and relatives to help her look for attachment.