Internships are a fantastic way to meet new people, learn about a chosen industry and discover what your dream job is really like. There are a number of things that you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your internship experience. Because if your friends are hanging out at the mall over the summer while you’re in an office cubicle somewhere, you’ll want to make sure the choice was worth it!
A word of warning: not all internships are created equal. Some will be very structured and, if you’re conscientious enough, it should be fairly easy to have an enjoyable and enriching experience. Others will have next to no structure, so it’s important you take the lead. The first two weeks of an internship are crucial in setting expectations and your trajectory for success or failure.
1. The basics
Dress appropriately.Watch your language.Don’t whine, complain or moan.Don’t hit on your cute co-worker or, worse, your manager.Do not get drunk at the welcome drinks (or happy hour).
2. An internship is a several-week interview
Many internships will offer some full-time jobs to recent graduates at the conclusion of the internship program. So if you think you want a permanent role in the company, your internship is the best time to prove to your managers that you’re the right choice. Even if you don’t get a job straight away, you can still build up contacts for later down the road.
3. Failing to plan is planning to fail
The internship will be over before you know it, so it’s important you plan exactly what you want to get out of it. By letting your manager know upfront what you want to do, it will be a lot easier to design a program tailored to your interests. Be firm, but not demanding; they might not give you much “real work,” but at least you can let them know which types of roles you want to oversee. Try to set up brief weekly catch-ups with your manager so you can update them on your progress or flag any concerns you have. Use this time to steer the direction of your internship if you feel it’s getting off track.
4. Be social, but not at your desk
Sure, eating out every day can be expensive and unhealthy, but imagine you’re the only one who brought lunch and you’re sitting in the lunchroom by yourself while everyone else is out. Next thing you know, everyone is calling your manager “the dolphin” and you have no idea why. Hanging out with your colleagues during non-work hours is an essential part of getting to know their personalities and how to best work around them, so don’t be the one left behind.. Also, don’t just hang out with your fellow interns. It’s great to make friends, but make sure you also spend time getting to know your managers and teammates, their backgrounds and the team culture as they’re ones you’ll be working with in the future. Being an intern, people will generally be more lenient when it comes to you asking questions and poking your head into different parts of the business.
5. Don’t come with problems; come with solutions
Instead of asking, “What should we do about XYZ?” say, “I think we should do [insert activity] for [insert project]. What do you think?” This will test your own analytical skills and also show your manager that you’re thinking about the problems, not just waiting for instructions to be dropped in your lap. People who follow instructions without adding value are easily dispensable. Always have a go at finding a solution before asking your manager; they want to work with people who can think on their own, not people they have to micromanage every step of the way.