Internships can provide you with invaluable experience if you make the most of the opportunity. A glowing recommendation from an established company – or professional institution (i.e. medical internships) – is often the first step toward securing personally fulfilling, gainful employment. On-the-job experience counts for a lot when you are trying to jump start a successful career, more so if you are trying to land a job in a design office. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 pieces of advice you should heed after you have accepted your first internship.
Prepare Yourself to do the Dirty Work
This is an internship, not a job. Remember that. No matter which kind of office you intern with, the odds are very high that you will be asked to do more than your fair share of “gopher” work, which is not exactly part of the job description. Small odd jobs around the office may include brewing coffee, running quick errands, sorting through incoming/outgoing mail, answering phones, and other mundane tasks. But keep in mind that the little things you accomplish may pay big dividends in the future, even if all you do is brew fresh pots of coffee for a week.
Maintain an Aura of Professionalism
Be sure that you carry yourself in a professional manner. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should behave uptight, but it’s a good idea to be “in character” while on an internship. Maintain your personal hygiene and dress according to the company standards too. Exceed them if you must! Also, try to gain trust around the office. Trust is more often than not rewarded with increased responsibility and credibility.
Show off Your Personality
Professionalism is paramount to a successful internship. Personality is equally as important. Remember to simply be yourself and observe the “rules of the game” so to speak. Try to know when to cut loose and when to put your head down and do the task at hand. Developing friendships can be as valuable down the line as the internship itself, personally and professionally. It’s all about networking.
Listen to a Mentor
You probably have heard of office horror stories about mean, rude supervisors. But why would they? Because the success stories go untold and stay behind closed doors. No matter which career you have chosen to pursue, listening to an experienced colleague is absolutely, unquestionably important during an internship. One tactic you could try is to shadow someone. In a nutshell, a good mentor can “show you the ropes” and offer you inside information.
Learn Self-Motivation
One drawback to showing off your natural personality is that you might momentarily lose focus on why have accepted this internship in the first place. If you are accustomed to taking your cue from others, perhaps you should work on ways to be self-motivated. When you are able to set, pursue, and accomplish daily tasks without a manager constantly peeking over your shoulder, the rewards are self-explanatory. Freedom and autonomy are earned over time.
Stay Positive
Frustration is a common among interns, so you shouldn’t become too discouraged if your internship duties begin to wear you down. Remember that all internships are essentially learning experiences, springboards toward a successful career. Day-to-day stress is unavoidable during an office internship: computers freeze, networks clog, co-workers argue, etc. Stay in good spirits. Stay positive!
Do Your Homework
Even though this is an internship, you should be knowledgeable to a certain degree in your field of study. Some internships are more straightforward than others programs. Medical interns are expected to possess a wealth of knowledge in their specialised fields, but office internships come in several forms. For example, if your area of study happens to be accounting, it would definitely behoove you to do as much research as possible about the company’s products or services before you even set foot in the office.
Keep in Touch with Supervisors
Ultimately, supervisors and managers are the ones who will write the good recommendation you desire. It’s a great idea to ask the boss to evaluate you performance during the week. If you openly discuss your strengths and weaknesses with management, the answers you receive may surprise you. At the very least, you should have one of these discussions with a supervisor upon completing the internship.
Set Yourself Apart from the Competition
Odds are that you will not be the only intern in the company, so stay alert and competitive. After all, you are here to further your career. Setting yourself apart doesn’t necessarily imply that your best move should be to sabotage your competitors, but it’s a good fair enough barometer of your performance if you stay aware.
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