Internships offer a variety of benefits beyond just securing a job after graduation. Sometimes an internship can reveal that a particular industry isn’t right for you. Internships can help you find lifelong colleagues and friends. The experience can prepare you to work comfortably and confidently in an office environment. But you won’t experience these benefits if you simply show up and count down the days until your internship ends.
- Expand Your Knowledge
Make an effort to learn about different aspects during your internship. Study the industry and the various roles within it. If you’re interning in the marketing department, get to know colleagues in editorial or programming. Pay attention to how their work differs from yours.
Strive to understand the company as a whole. How is work organized? What is the corporate culture like? Which employees are considered stars? What makes a good employee? Think about your future: would you like to work for a similar company, or would you prefer a different management or organizational structure? During interviews, you’ll be asked about how you like to work and what environment suits you. The insights gained during your internship will help you answer these questions.
During your internship, you may discover this company or industry isn’t for you. If so, don’t view the internship as wasted time. The sooner you discover what doesn’t fit, the better.
- Build Confidence Through Workplace Practice
If you’ve never worked in an office, an internship can be your first introduction to office culture. The more familiar you become with how offices operate — from small talk before meetings to knowing who to copy on emails (and when) — the more comfortable you’ll feel.
Keep in mind that knowing industry jargon is extremely valuable when it comes to researching jobs, writing effective cover letters, and speaking confidently in interviews. So pay attention to the tools used in the office and the buzzwords that surface during meetings.
- Expand Your Skills and Document Your Work
During your internship, you might write your first newsletter or computer program, create a schedule, or even launch a project. But some internship programs assign interns tedious grunt work. Rest assured: regardless of the work you do, you’re gaining knowledge and skills that differ from what you learned in the classroom.
Even simple tasks like gathering information from employees for a daily email can look compelling on your resume. To this end, track everything you learn and do during your internship.
Keeping a journal is helpful. Or simply save a digital note or email draft, including the date, each time you complete a new task. For example:
- “September 9 — Learned a new Excel formula”
- “November 22 — Attended a conference and presented key takeaways at a company-wide meeting”
These notes will be invaluable when you write job descriptions for your resume.
Finally, remember the internship’s purpose isn’t just to help the company — it’s for you to learn. Take notes during meetings and ask clarifying questions later. If colleagues mention interesting industry news, resources, or tips, follow up and learn more.
All this research and follow-through will make you a more informed candidate during interviews.
- Request Feedback
The word “intern” practically contains “newcomer.” This can be frustrating and may sometimes limit you from more interesting projects, but it also means you’re not expected to know everything. Ask plenty of questions.
Additionally, ask supervisors and colleagues for feedback. Learn what you could do better. While criticism is hard to hear, this knowledge will help you improve. Better to discover your weaknesses now and adjust than during permanent employment. Plus, you’ll have something to say when interviewers ask, “What is your greatest weakness?”
Finally, if there’s ever a time in your career when mistakes aren’t catastrophic, it’s now. If and when you make one, simply acknowledge the error directly and ask your supervisor what you can do to fix it. Then file it under lessons learned.
- Give It Your All
The best internships offer challenging, interesting work. But unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Here are some things to remember if you want to stay engaged:
- Ask for more: Request additional work and projects if you’ve completed your assigned tasks. Or compile a list of useful projects or tasks and ask your supervisor if you can take them on.
- Be proactive: Meet with your supervisor early on to understand their expectations. Remember, part of their job is to ensure you have a meaningful experience. If you’re interested in meeting specific people or achieving certain resume-worthy goals, communicate this to your manager. Just be mindful of their schedule — most office workers are already overloaded.
- Watch your demeanor: Depending on your responsibilities, this can be challenging. However tedious the work, don’t let it show on your face or in your behavior. Don’t check your phone during meetings or scroll social media at your desk unless it’s part of your job duties.
- Build Connections and Find a Mentor
If you’re part of an intern cohort, you may form lifelong relationships. Take opportunities to connect with peers when appropriate. Expand your network beyond the internship. Ask colleagues to coffee or sit with them during lunch. Attend company-wide events and socialize.
Finally, seek career mentors who can offer advice, write recommendations, and help you make important connections. Ask colleagues about their career paths and what advice they might offer. These conversations are the beginning of relationships that can become powerful support throughout your career.
Source: Career Balance
Image: Freepik
