Stipend: check the mechanics, not just the amount
A stipend is payment for a training arrangement, and the number on the offer means less than its mechanics. Before accepting, pin down the details: whether the stipend is monthly or paid in instalments or at the end; whether attendance or evaluation conditions sit behind it; whether it arrives through payroll or as a vendor payment; and whether the amount changes if the internship shifts from one mode of work to another. These are ordinary questions, not suspicious ones, and any serious employer’s coordinator can answer them from the offer sheet. Ask for the answers in writing, prefer the email chain, and file it there, because disputes about internship pay are almost always disputes about what was never written down.
The certificate and what it certifies
An internship certificate has real value only if it names what you did. Check that the certificate will state the role or function, the duration and, where sensible, the project or department, because a one-liner with dates and a signature is weaker evidence. Ask what completion requires: some organisations issue certificates automatically at the end, while others condition them on attendance, a deliverable or an evaluation. If your institution requires reports or supervisor sign-offs for academic credit, raise it in the first week, not the last. Keep a copy of the final certificate, and if you can, collect a short line from your supervisor about the work; a reference message dated within the internship is far easier to obtain than one requested two years later.
PPOs in plain terms
A pre-placement offer converts a successful intern into a job candidate without another open recruitment round. It is a real and common path in consulting, technology and analytics firms, but it is also an offer the company can extend or decline at its discretion, tied to performance expectations, and sometimes dependent on business conditions and headcount. Treat it as a possible reward, not a plan. The honest version of the question about whether an internship converts gets you the conditions: what the team’s record of conversions has been, on what basis they decide, and when the decision typically lands relative to your graduation or campus cycle. Ask those questions in the early weeks, then go and do the work well.
Questions to ask before saying yes
Ten minutes of questions prevent weeks of mismatch. Ask what a typical day contains, who you report to, and whether a mentor is assigned. Ask whether the work is remote, hybrid or in-office, what the timings are, and what equipment is provided. Ask about evaluation: how your work will be reviewed, at what intervals, and whether there is a final presentation. Ask for the timeline of the stipend, the certificate and any conversion decision. If the internship is unpaid, ask what the trade is, meaning mentoring, credit or exposure to a specific team, and who is accountable for it. Write the answers down, because intentions are not a deliverable.
- Daily responsibilities and reporting line.
- Work mode, timings and equipment.
- Stipend schedule and certificate conditions.
- Evaluation method and conversion criteria.
Get the offer in writing, and keep it
Accept in writing and keep the file. A good internship offer email names the organisation, the role or function, start and end dates, working mode, the stipend amount and schedule, certificate conditions, and a contact person for once you arrive. If items are missing, ask for them to be added before your first day, since a short, polite list is usually honoured because it is ordinary practice. On joining, track your deliverables weekly, and confirm at the halfway point that everything needed for the certificate and any conversion conversation is on record. At the end, close the loop formally: request the certificate, a supervisor reference, and where appropriate, an introduction. File everything, because internships feed the first lines of your career résumé.