How to Make The Most of Your Internship
Category: Young Adults, Financial Planning
Internships are a rite of passage these days. Just ask the whopping 75% of that population who’s taken one on at some point before they graduate — and for good reason too. If you play your cards right, an internship is a treasure trove of opportunity.
In your teens or early twenties, you rarely know without a doubt what you’d like to do for the rest of your life and that’s okay. Your internship is for you to slowly find that out, step into the shoes of an accountant, a lawyer, or a marketer in a multinational corporation or a fledgling start-up for a few months, and discover if that’s your cup of tea.
Or if you already have your heart set on that dream company, that internship is your chance to prove your worth and earn that spot at the table, reserved just for you when you graduate. Regardless of your motivation, you must be prepared to get the absolute most you possibly can out of your internship and the opportunities it presents.
- Set goals for your internship
Know what you want and gun for it. I don’t mean you have to have your whole life figured out; most of us still don’t. But going for an internship means you must, at the very least, know what you want to get out of it. Are you hoping to learn the ropes of data analytics? Do you want to be exposed to stakeholder management? Or are you looking for some expert guidance to help refine your writerly talent? Only with an end goal in mind, should you begin your search for an internship that can check these learning boxes for you.
There is virtually no sense in taking on an internship role that doesn’t put you on the right track toward your goals. When you do start your internship, these learning goals you’ve laid out for yourself should guide your progress throughout your stint. Knowing what you want to learn sets you up precisely for success.
2. Take initiative and go the extra mile
Doing what you’re tasked to do is no longer enough, going the extra mile is what’s truly memorable. Whatever you’re assigned, pursue it determined to exceed expectations. If you’re asked to do market analysis with little guidance or instructions, invest extra time and effort to make sure your data is up to date, credited, thorough, professionally and aesthetically presented.
Your idle time is also the best time to get cracking on new opportunities and projects, big or small. Taking the initiative to try your hand at all sorts of work gives you that extra learning opportunity and you’ll also be remembered for it. Even if you’re in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask questions — of course, clever ones that show that you’ve done your homework — and your colleagues will be more than happy to assist.
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3. Look out for a mentor figure
Some companies may assign you a mentor while in others, you’ll have to be proactive about finding yourself one. A mentor is there not only to guide you through your internship at that company but also to support you in your professional development even after you leave.
More often than not, they’ve been where you are and can provide a seasoned perspective on the industry’s ins and outs and how you can chart your career trajectory. When identifying one, select someone you admire and who possesses the skill sets or qualities you’re striving to develop.
Discuss with your mentor your goals for the internship and, together, plan on achievable milestones to get there — and regular reviews to keep you on track and evaluate your progress at each juncture. Even when your internship ends, that mentor can continue to help guide you on your professional journey and even connect you with another for the next chapter of your growth.
4. Build connections and professional relationships
Your internship might only be a few months long, but the relationships you build within your team and your intern cohort will be useful additions to your professional network. Making connections will not only make your internship experience far more enjoyable but also earn you valuable contacts that may come in handy when you’re looking for your first job.
Invite your colleagues to lunch, initiate post-work team dinners, and celebrate birthdays. Offer to help those around you wherever possible. You’ll also learn how to build professional relationships by watching the interactions and encounters in the workplace, and observing how the most amicable co-workers operate. Or conduct informational interviews with colleagues you’re hoping to emulate. These conversations can be more insightful than you expect.
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Taking an internship allows you to experience the workplace and learn the ropes of the profession — the best of both worlds with none of the repercussions but all of the learning! This article outlines some of the ways you can be an exemplary, memorable intern while absorbing all you can from your couple of months at the firm.
No matter the outcome, your internship will help you discover something new about yourself to add to your future job search checklist — it could be a professional interest you just uncovered or a company red flag you realised is a dealbreaker for you. Later on, when you’re trying to land your next job, you’ll find yourself less distracted by peripheral benefits and more focused on what truly makes for a fulfilling career.
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