An internship is the best way to gain real-world work experience and learn new skills while you are still in school. If you are undecided about your career path, an internship can help you learn more about the different kinds of jobs out there and see what you like and dislike. Hopefully, these tips will help you get the most out of your internship.
Many companies offer structured internship programs as a means to eventually fill entry-level positions. They purposely hire college students to gain fresh ideas and insights. Your internship could absolutely turn into a permanent position and a full-time job.
14 Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Internship
1. Choose with intention.
Before you start applying for an internship, think about what you want. This might be tough if you have no idea! Here are a few questions that might help.
Onsite or virtual internship?
Small or large company?
Paid or unpaid internship?
Not all internship opportunities are equal. Your time is valuable. You want to find interesting work that you will enjoy. You also want to gain experience in your potential career field. Be purposeful with your applications.
In graduate school, I was fortunate to get an internship with Maybelline in the market research department. I loved the internship. It gave me exposure to how a large company operates and makes decisions. It also helped me figure out I didn’t want to work in a research department but would enjoy working on a team that utilized the research results to make decisions.
2. Set goals.
Before starting your internship, think about what you want to get out of it. If you want to gain specific skills or learn a software program or tool, ask about that in the interview. If you haven’t figured out what you want to do, try to explore a field or company on your shortlist. Having clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated.
3. Be proactive.
Ideally, your manager will have a list of tasks and responsibilities they need you to do. I can almost guarantee you will finish your work more quickly than they expect. Don’t sit at your desk and wait for more tasks to be assigned to you. Take the initiative and ask for more work and seek out opportunities to contribute and learn. Actively look for ways to add value to the organization, share new ideas, and show your enthusiasm even with menial tasks or grunt work.
If you have asked for more work and your manager has no suggestions, be creative. Study the company website and social media. Research competitors. Take advantage of the company's training on soft skills or software programs. If you are receiving college credit, make sure you satisfy those requirements.
4. Connect with coworkers.
Build relationships with your colleagues, supervisors, and other professionals in your department and company. Stop by their office and ask if they have a minute to chat. Be proactive and schedule a 30-minute meeting with key people to learn more about what they do. You can learn a lot from the successful people you work with.
Connect with them on LinkedIn. This is where you being making professional connections. You may even find a good mentor to guide you throughout the course of your internship. Networking can open doors to future jobs and provide valuable insights.
Check out this blog for more ideas on how to go about this: 9 Tips to Get the Most Out of an Informational Interview.
5. Seek feedback.
Actively seek feedback on your performance and progress and make sure you are on the right track. Regularly check in with your supervisor or mentor to discuss your work, strengths, and areas for improvement. Many managers have a hard time offering constructive feedback or knowing how to address issues. Asking for it is a great way to start the conversation and you can use the feedback to make the necessary adjustments for future assignments.
6. Ask questions.
Don’t feel self-conscious about asking questions, it’s an excellent way to show you are engaged and to learn as much as you can. People expect interns to have lots of questions, it’s ok. It may take some time to learn to read social cues and understand the tension or energy in a meeting to know when it’s a good time to ask. If speaking up in a meeting pushes you too far out of your comfort zone or if you feel like it’s not appropriate, simply write your questions down. This relates to my next tip of taking notes.
7. Take notes.
Carry a notebook or your laptop with you when you attend meetings. This goes for large meetings and one-on-ones with your manager. Take notes on what is discussed. Write down your own ideas. Follow up with your boss to review your notes, get your questions answered, and see if your ideas might turn into a special project.
If your work takes you out of an office environment and into a warehouse, factory, or laboratory, it may be tough to take notes. You might consider making voice notes in your phone if you are allowed to carry that with you. Or carry a small assignment notebook and pen.
8. Learn from others.
Observe and learn from experienced professionals around you. Pay attention to their work styles, problem-solving approaches, and communication skills. Listen to how people pitch ideas, disagree, and collaborate. Observe how people write an email, meeting notes, and presentations. Every day will be a learning experience if you are paying attention.
Don’t forget to save samples of how the company communicates to employees. This might be via email, webinars, or printed flyers. Take pictures of work posters in the copy room or cafeteria. You never know how these materials might help you in an interview or future work situation.
9. Maintain a positive attitude.
Approach your internship with enthusiasm and a positive mindset. That goes for your first day, last day, and every day in between. Show an eagerness to learn, be adaptable, and demonstrate a willingness to take on tasks, even if they seem mundane. A positive attitude can leave a lasting impression on your colleagues.
10. Document your work.
Keep track of your accomplishments, projects, and tasks completed during the internship. You need to respect the privacy policy of the company but you should be able to save copies of status reports, presentations, and strategies. These notes will serve as a reference when updating your resume or discussing your experience in future job interviews.
11. Build a professional brand.
A successful internship is just the beginning of your professional experience. Maintain a professional image throughout your internship. Be punctual, follow the dress code, communicate effectively, and demonstrate a strong work ethic. Your professionalism will leave a positive impression on your coworkers. They may recommend you for a job in the future or serve as a reference.
12. Save the job description.
File the job description so you can use some of the language on your resume (see next tip). You can refer back to the list of responsibilities when you have free time and follow up with your boss to remind them of tasks they can assign to you.
A management trainee internship job description mentioned the candidate may be eligible for performance incentives and employee referral rewards. If your supervisor hasn’t explained the guidelines, be sure to ask.
A PR intern posting stated the intern would be able to pitch story ideas to print, broadcast, and digital media. Be proactive and start working on your pitch. Ask to see a document that shows the pitch format.
A sales intern posting shows one of the responsibilities is to leverage resources like Salesforce and Hoovers. Make sure you have credentials so you can log in and begin learning these tools.
13. Update your resume.
Now that you have some experience in the real world, it’s time to update your resume. You can use some of the language from the job description. Try to include any success stories or metrics from your projects.
If you are a student, you should still try to keep your resume to one page. Your high school clubs or activities may have helped you get the internship. Now is the time that information drops off your resume and you replace it with your projects, tasks, and tools from your internship.
14. Ask for a LinkedIn recommendation.
Before you ask for a LinkedIn recommendation, consider writing one for your supervisor first. Write three or four sentences that praise their leadership style, patience, expertise, positive influence, etc. Your recommendation will help motivate them to write one for you.
Remember, a summer internship is not just about the specific tasks assigned to you; it's also an opportunity to learn, grow, and establish connections. By following these tips, you can make the most of your internship and set yourself up for future success. Good luck!
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