The following is a guest post by Emily Benner.
So you’ve landed yourself an internship—that’s fantastic! Internships are a great way to make a splash in a new industry.
Whether it was previous internship or job experience, your good grades or stellar interviewing skills, you are the chosen one for that position. Your hard work shouldn’t stop there, though. I think it should go without saying that an internship—no matter how long—should be treated like an extended interview.
Too often, though, I see interns start work and fall through the cracks getting lost in the bustle of office culture. Remember, any internship or job you get is, and always will be, exactly what you make of it. If you sit around and don’t ask for projects, then you deserve to be bored. My goal with any internship is to have my hand in any project I can—and with that, to make an impact.
On that very motivating note, I want to share some tips I’ve been collecting that can help you be the best intern you can be—and hopefully land the perfect job:
Be on your very best behavior. This is a learning experience in the culture of that organization as much as it is in learning more about your trade. Do not, at any cost, get tangled up in office drama or gossip. Your reputation is all you will ever have in the professional world—walking in with a clean slate is an extremely valuable asset that most people don’t get twice. Don’t screw it up—be courteous. Smile. Ask how you can help. These small things will not go unnoticed.
Employers don’t expect you to be perfect. Ask questions, make mistakes, ask more questions, and learn from them. Never pretend to know something you don’t—always, always, always be clear on what you should be doing and how. Your employer will thank you for doing your job correctly and be glad to help you learn on the job.
Take every opportunity offered to you. If a project is offered to you that will have a 5 a.m. start next Wednesday, jump on it and ask how else you can help—do not whine about the hour, even if your manager complains about it. Each and every opportunity you are given (or ASK for) is another opportunity for you to shine.
Don’t assume you are entitled to anything. As the intern, you are the lowest man (or woman) on the ladder. You need to be humble and modest about yourself and your projects. Your managers will notice this and it will go a long way—they will be more impressed by the results you produce than from you telling them how awesome you are. Show, don’t tell.
Know someone is always watching. Don’t assume you need to impress only your direct supervisor. On the very first day of your internship (starting in the parking lot!), you should be making an effort to impress everyone you meet—whether it is with your impeccable manners or your amazing presentation skills. Word will get back to the right people that you are a good fit.
In short, put your nose to the grindstone and make an effort to squeeze every last drop of experience and education out of your internship. From coffee runs to making complicated edits to a Portuguese client’s press release, you should make it a priority to produce high quality results and do your best to exceed expectations in whatever you do. If you do this, you have succeeded in your internship, and the experience will shine on your resume and in interviews to any future employers that you are the kind of job candidate they should be looking for.
What are some tips that you can share with us on how to have a successful internship experience?
About the Author:
Emily Benner is an emerging PR and marketing professional working in the Orlando, Fla., area. She’s completed two successful internships in conjunction with her master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
