From the classroom to the workplace 24/06/2025

What you really need to know about your internship

An internship is not just a school assignment. It is a first introduction to what really matters outside the school walls.

No course materials, but everything in real life: real cases, real colleagues and real expectations. And sometimes even a real job.

What does an internship actually involve?

At Crescendo CVO, an internship within the administrative programmes lasts 120 hours. You spread these hours over your days without classes and you look for your own internship place in your area or within a 20 km radius around Mechelen.

“Applying for jobs, making contact, arranging appointments: these are steps you need on the job market.”

You choose yourself where you end up. No panic: you are not alone, and those who find it difficult receive support. But the first step? That comes from you.

“That is no coincidence,” explains Sandra Vergauwen, internship supervisor at Crescendo CVO: “We want learners to take initiative themselves. That search is already a form of learning. Applying for jobs, making contact, arranging appointments: these are steps you need on the job market.”

An internship with a club card

Lies did her internship with the facilities team at AFAS Software and was welcomed as a full member of the team, with a club card for the “clubhouse”, as they call their office. A warm welcome indeed, presented by Marie-Lynn Hens, clubhouse manager at AFAS Software and also her internship supervisor. For both Lies and Marie-Lynn Hens, it was a first collaboration.

“We didn’t exactly know what to expect,” says Marie-Lynn Hens. “But it clicked immediately. We noticed that Lies wanted to commit herself and was open to learning.” The team set up a buddy system with guidance at the start.

“As the weeks went by, Lies independently took on tasks at reception, in the kitchen, supporting events, and she quickly learned how the company works. By the end of her internship, she was fully functioning as a colleague. She was punctual, friendly and dared to take initiative.”

What started as a leap into the unknown became a real team experience. “We had an extra staff member for three months,” says Marie-Lynn Hens. “Everyone gets equal opportunities at AFAS, and Lies seized them with both hands.”

Super mentor – super internship

“The teachers at Crescendo CVO also helped me from the very beginning of my course right up to my internship.”

The final word goes to Lies. “I really enjoyed working at AFAS,” she says. “There I learned the skills of a receptionist, but also discovered my own talents. They were super friendly there. I had a great internship supervisor. It was quite exciting, but everything turned out well. AFAS is a company that places great importance on inclusion. I am very happy that I could do my internship there, because I have a disability and people with disabilities often do not get the chance to work or do an internship on the regular job market. The teachers at Crescendo CVO also helped me from the very beginning of my studies right up to the internship. I received good guidance.”

5 tips to turn your internship into your dream job

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  Choose consciously

Don’t go for “what is still available”. Look for an internship that truly suits you or a place where you would like to work later.

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  Take initiative

Send an email? Walk in? Call? Do it. Your first “job application” starts here.

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  Write down what you learn

From the printer code to who to call and when: writing helps you remember. And it shows commitment.

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  Show respect and curiosity

Your internship supervisor is both your guide and your manager. Be polite, but also ask questions. This shows you want to grow.

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  Think ahead

Show that you want to be more than “the intern” and who knows, you might land your dream job.

Still feeling a bit nervous?

You are not alone.

Crescendo CVO provides an internship supervisor, and at your internship place you also have a mentor. Together, they ensure support, feedback and a fair evaluation.