1 of 2 pages
6 Ways To Ensure Your Internship is Not Boring, Bad or Both
An opportunity to intern somewhere can be great, but it is only as great as you make it. It’s your internship and it’s your responsibility to make the most of it.
The reasons why other people do not enjoy their internship, or do not get anything out of the experience, are mainly due to a lack of commitment and participation on their part.
The lack of the following 6 intern behaviors is what caused them to fail. Make sure your internship is not one of them.
0 Comments on this document
Document Transcript:
6 Ways To Ensure Your Internship is Not Boring, Bad or Both
An opportunity to intern somewhere can be great, but it is only as great as you
make it. It¼s your internship and it¼s your responsibility to make the most of it.
The reasons why other people do not enjoy their internship, or do not get
anything out of the experience, are mainly due to a lack of commitment and
participation on their part.
The lack of the following 6 intern behaviors is what caused them to fail. Make
sure your internship is not one of them.
1. Exude enthusiasm
As an intern you¼ll be assigned tasks that no one else wants to do. Consider it
your rite of passage. Don¼t balk at the idea of photocopying 500 pages Ð show
a positive attitude and promise yourself that you will treat every experience as
a learning experience Ð maybe you didn¼t know what the duplex function was
before, but by the 350th copy, I guarantee you will have Þgured it out.
Related to this is the importance of avoiding negativity. Do not complain,
gossip, arrive late, miss deadlines, act arrogant, dress inappropriately, act
unprofessional, and most of do not act better than anyone in the company.
Hey, the secretaries, Þle clerks, maintenance staff, and receptionists are all
getting paid more than you are!
2. Seize Every Opportunity To Learn About The Company
Attend as many meetings, conferences, and events as you can. Read as much
corporate material as possible. It may sound boring at Þrst, but you¼ll learn
things about the inner workings of the company that only an insider would
know.
If your internship does not provide job rotation, try to get exposure to as many
departments and supervisors as you can. Not only do you learn more about
how things work, you also come in contact with a lot more people.
Finally, ask lots of questions. Employers expect this from an intern.
Remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question; you are there to learn so
capitalize on it.
3. Show Initiative
Don¼t wait for your supervisor to assign work to you, look for work that needs
to done. This shows that not only do you have a great work ethic, but also
you are able to think ahead and identify solutions to problems before theyhappen.
Don¼t get too cocky though, no one likes a know-it-all and your supervisor will
know if you are trying to show him or her up. It¼s a bad move no matter how you
slice it. You¼ll have plenty of opportunities to shine, don¼t ever do it at the
expense of someone else.
4. Find a Mentor
Identify someone higher up in the company who seems to take an interest in
you and make him or her your mentor. This may be your supervisor, but it is
very possible you will click with someone else based on common interests or
outlooks.
Let the natural friendship evolve into a mentor/mentee relationship. Your
mentor will show you the ropes as well as make sure you are exposed to the
best learning opportunities. Many mentor relationships last long after the
internship is over and your mentor can be very instrumental in your career
development as well as your job search.
Aside from developing a strong connection with one person, make sure you
network with as many people as possible. These people can help you now and
in the future so make sure you leave your internship on a positive note and
maintain contact with these people.
5. Accomplish Something Tangible
Use your internship to pad your resume with distinct accomplishments. Try to
ÒownÓ one project and use the outcome as proof of your ability to bring about
successful results.
An internship is our opportunity to learn new skills and apply your current skills
to new situations. Make sure you leave with ample ammunition to prove you
didn¼t just waste your time at the photocopier.
6. Lighten Up
An internship needs to be as fun as it is useful. Let your personality shine
through so that your coworkers get to know you as a person. The better
connected you are with people, the more likely they will help with your future
job search activity.
Don¼t go hog wild though either Ð being the life of the party one night will only
come back to haunt you the next morning.
An opportunity to intern somewhere can be great, but it is only as great as you
make it. It¼s your internship and it¼s your responsibility to make the most of it.
The reasons why other people do not enjoy their internship, or do not get
anything out of the experience, are mainly due to a lack of commitment and
participation on their part.
The lack of the following 6 intern behaviors is what caused them to fail. Make
sure your internship is not one of them.
1. Exude enthusiasm
As an intern you¼ll be assigned tasks that no one else wants to do. Consider it
your rite of passage. Don¼t balk at the idea of photocopying 500 pages Ð show
a positive attitude and promise yourself that you will treat every experience as
a learning experience Ð maybe you didn¼t know what the duplex function was
before, but by the 350th copy, I guarantee you will have Þgured it out.
Related to this is the importance of avoiding negativity. Do not complain,
gossip, arrive late, miss deadlines, act arrogant, dress inappropriately, act
unprofessional, and most of do not act better than anyone in the company.
Hey, the secretaries, Þle clerks, maintenance staff, and receptionists are all
getting paid more than you are!
2. Seize Every Opportunity To Learn About The Company
Attend as many meetings, conferences, and events as you can. Read as much
corporate material as possible. It may sound boring at Þrst, but you¼ll learn
things about the inner workings of the company that only an insider would
know.
If your internship does not provide job rotation, try to get exposure to as many
departments and supervisors as you can. Not only do you learn more about
how things work, you also come in contact with a lot more people.
Finally, ask lots of questions. Employers expect this from an intern.
Remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question; you are there to learn so
capitalize on it.
3. Show Initiative
Don¼t wait for your supervisor to assign work to you, look for work that needs
to done. This shows that not only do you have a great work ethic, but also
you are able to think ahead and identify solutions to problems before theyhappen.
Don¼t get too cocky though, no one likes a know-it-all and your supervisor will
know if you are trying to show him or her up. It¼s a bad move no matter how you
slice it. You¼ll have plenty of opportunities to shine, don¼t ever do it at the
expense of someone else.
4. Find a Mentor
Identify someone higher up in the company who seems to take an interest in
you and make him or her your mentor. This may be your supervisor, but it is
very possible you will click with someone else based on common interests or
outlooks.
Let the natural friendship evolve into a mentor/mentee relationship. Your
mentor will show you the ropes as well as make sure you are exposed to the
best learning opportunities. Many mentor relationships last long after the
internship is over and your mentor can be very instrumental in your career
development as well as your job search.
Aside from developing a strong connection with one person, make sure you
network with as many people as possible. These people can help you now and
in the future so make sure you leave your internship on a positive note and
maintain contact with these people.
5. Accomplish Something Tangible
Use your internship to pad your resume with distinct accomplishments. Try to
ÒownÓ one project and use the outcome as proof of your ability to bring about
successful results.
An internship is our opportunity to learn new skills and apply your current skills
to new situations. Make sure you leave with ample ammunition to prove you
didn¼t just waste your time at the photocopier.
6. Lighten Up
An internship needs to be as fun as it is useful. Let your personality shine
through so that your coworkers get to know you as a person. The better
connected you are with people, the more likely they will help with your future
job search activity.
Don¼t go hog wild though either Ð being the life of the party one night will only
come back to haunt you the next morning.
