CONNECT Internships

How do I apply?

1. Fill in our online application form
2. Your application and profile will be reviewed for short-listing
3. The final selection process will include:
   • Telephonic interview
   • Personal interview with respective departmental head

• You will meet with a representative from Extentia
• Accommodation and a monthly stipend will be provided to you

• Be assigned a mentor
• Have regular review and feedback sessions
• Have so much fun you will hardly miss home!

Which airlines fly to India?

• There are plenty of airlines you might want to check out for your travel to India. Some of the ones with frequent dates include Air India, British Airways, Air France, Delta, and Lufthansa. Other slightly less expensive airlines include Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Gulf Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
• Picking the least expensive airline is not always the best option as it might not be the most direct way to get here.

• You should preferably have a long term visa (e.g. for 1 year if you are planning a 6-month internship). It might be easy for you to obtain a long term visa in your home country but in India, it can be difficult to extend it. You will need at least one week for this process and even then there is no guarantee of getting the visa.
• If you are staying longer than 180 days/6 months you have to get registered with the local authorities. It’s an easy process.
• It is a good practice to leave copies of your passport, visa and other important documents at home as well as make additional ones here.
• While in India, never take your passport around with you. It is safer to leave it at home rather than carry it with you. When you travel, always carry a copy of your passport with you. Hotels and youth hostels have to send this copy to the local police station to report your stay.

• If you are visiting India for the first time it is best that you speak to your doctor regarding routine vaccinations for precautionary measures. Also, check the Department of Foreign Affairs website for particular vaccination related information.
• Malaria prophylaxis is optional. It is not necessary if you stay around Pune and if you don’t intend to travel excessively to remote places.

What kind of clothes should I bring?

• Bring as few as possible. India is a shopping paradise; everything is inexpensive as compared to most places in Europe, the US, and many other countries. The dress code at Extentia is very informal – you don’t have to pack too much of formal wear. Men usually dress casually in jeans and shirt/t-shirts and women typically wear the traditional dress or jeans/trousers and shirt/t-shirts.
• No one wears a tie or a suit in the office unless there are specific formal meetings or occasions.
• International airlines are very strict if you have excessive luggage, so try to keep it light.

What is the weather like in Pune?

• Your packing is dependent on the time of the year you are coming to India, so it’s best to know which season you will be arriving in.
• India has three major seasons – winter, summer, and monsoon. Winter months (November-February) are pleasant though it does get slightly chilly in the evenings so bring a few sweaters or full-sleeved shirts. Summer (March-June) is hot in most parts of India, so light t-shirts, jeans, shorts, etc. should suffice. Monsoon is usually between June to September along the West Coast and mid-October to December along the East. It is advisable to bring a jacket and some light woolen.
• Temperatures range between 10 to 40 degrees Celsius (°C) – Summer is 24 – 38 °C. Monsoon is 18 – 30 °C. Winter is 10 – 25 °C.
  

Is there anything else I need to remember to pack?

• Bring your mobile phone with you. Prepaid cards are very inexpensive for making phone calls and sending messages. Adapters for your electronic devices (if required at all) are easily available here.
• It may be better for you to bring your own laptop (there is no customs control on personal laptops) to use in India, else you will get your own desktop machine at Extentia.
• It would be a good idea to bring some snacks from your home country to ease homesickness – of course, your colleagues will appreciate them as well. This might be chocolate or Gummibaerchen if you are from Germany or Switzerland.
• Bring your sleeping bag – this is always useful while you are traveling around India.
• In general, nearly everything is available here. Do bring sunscreen and earplugs if you must.

What is the local currency? How can I convert my money to the local currency?

• The local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR).
• A good place to exchange your home currency for Indian rupees is the international airport in India. You will get a fair exchange rate and good service.
• Bring your credit card if you have one, there are many places where you can use it (e.g., shopping malls). You can also use your debit card for cash withdrawal.
• There are ATMs around town (like the Citibank ATM close to Extentia). However, there will be a small fee if you are a client of a different bank.

What are typical living expenses?

• Bottled water (1L): 20 rupees
• Cheap lunch/dinner: 50 rupees (inadvisable)
• Usual dinner: 200 rupees
• Dinner in a nice, fancy restaurant: 500 rupees
• Renting a scooter/two-wheeler: 2500 – 3000 rupees/month
• T-shirt: 200 rupees onwards
• A beer in a nightclub: 200 – 400 rupees
• A haircut: 100 – 400 rupees (for men) 300 – 700 (for women)
• A dozen bananas: 40 rupees

• A Volvo bus (500 rupees) or Cool cab can be found at the Mumbai airport and will bring you directly to Pune.
• Pune is approximately 200 km away from Mumbai and the journey takes about 3 – 4 hours if traveling by road.
• If you arrive at other destinations like Delhi, you might want to fly with one of the domestic airlines (e.g., IndiGo, Jet Airways or Spicejet.) to get to Pune. You can check out prices online and buy tickets well in advance as they work out much less than the regular full fare.

• What is the best way to get around the city?
  • Traveling around Pune is a breeze as there are auto-rickshaws everywhere.
  • Rickshaws are metered though the fare is later calculated based on the meter reading. An evening/night charge of an additional 40-50% may be applicable. Carrying a meter card with you will help you calculate charges.
  • Most interns rent a two-wheeler/scooter, but it would be wise to get an international driving license before you arrive; the procedure for getting an Indian Learner’s license can be lengthy.
  • Buses are also available but are often too overcrowded and not recommended at all
  • A wide selection of relatively cheap cab services is available.
  • The city is a relatively safe place and most people (including rickshaw drivers in the area) speak some English so it is not too difficult to get around.
  How can I keep in touch with people back home?
  • Bring your mobile phone with you. Prepaid cards are very inexpensive for making phone calls and sending messages.
  • Besides having 24/7 Internet access at the office, there are cyber cafes at the corner of every street.
  • It could be wise to invest in a broadband mobile internet stick. They are relatively inexpensive and convenient.
  What is shopping like in Pune?
  • Shopping in Koregaon Park (the area around the office) is relatively expensive. Typical shopping areas are Main Street (Mahatma Gandhi Road), Laxmi Road or Fergusson College Road.
  • Foreigners shopping antics apply – haggle!
  • There are lots of shopping malls in Pune and one of Pune’s newest swanky malls ‘Phoenix Market City’ is just ten minutes away from the office. You will find American and European brands at relatively low prices at these malls.
  Does Pune city have good nightlife?
  • The nightlife here is great. There are plenty of pubs and nightclubs in Pune so bring on the booze! (We still expect you at work the day after).
  • The entrance fee for a nightclub is usually between 100 – 600 rupees. Most night clubs prefer couples, at least on busy nights.
  Which places can I visit around Pune?
  • Known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, Pune is a fascinating city, home to the highest number of educational institutions in India, culturally rich, and in close proximity to a couple of hill stations.
  • The most popular hill station around Pune is Mahabaleshwar, 120 km from Pune. You will welcome the cool respite, enjoy the pleasant walks, boat on the beautiful Venna Lake, and admire the stunning views from its many viewpoints.
  • Just 19 km east of Mahabaleshwar is another pretty hill station, Panchgani – quiet and good for simple treks. 24 km northwest from Mahabaleshwar, an interesting daytrip away is the Pratapgarh Fort. Some of the other forts that make adventurous trekking destinations on the outskirts of Pune are Sinhagad, Shivneri, Torna, Rajgad, Visapur, Tikona, and the famous Karla caves.
  • A favorite weekend getaway would be Goa! The coastal paradise located about 450 km from Pune is popular for its sun-kissed sandy beaches, easy-going lifestyle as well as its various fairs and festivals.
  • Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage.

• Where can I get more information?

  
  If you have any other questions about traveling to India or your internship at Extentia, please do not hesitate to contact us at connect@extentia.com

  
  Ask our friendly interns!