As a student, you have spent years building your academic foundation—now it’s time to see what you’ve got. For many of you, the Internship is the first immersion into a professional work environment.
Your internship will test you in several ways. It will test your ability to build professional relationships, to assess your current skills, and to gain new ones. Ultimately an Internship exposes you to your potential working environment so you can see if it’s a good fit for you. Here are some tips on making the most out of your first Internship:
Make good impressions. Did you ever hear the saying, “A first impression is a lasting impression?” You should arrive early, dress well, and come prepared to work hard. If your supervisor does not introduce you around, do it yourself. Ask questions about daily tasks, office interactions, and freedom to take on new projects. Take some time to observe your new environment and how people interact with one another. Offer assistance when people need it—this will go a long way.
Know your role; shut your mouth (sometimes). Certainly Interns can be excellent change-generators for an organization, just by adding a fresh pair of eyes to the workplace. However, some interns think that making a good impression means “jumping right in” and changing the existing structure of the organization. Before you speak or suggest changes, make sure you ask good questions and take time to understand the culture and history of your internship site.
Take initiative. After becoming an informed and respected member of the team and you’ve breezed through your to-do list, it’s time to take some initiative. Supervisors love interns who can be self-sufficient. By now, you should know the challenges your organization is facing. More importantly, you should have ideas for solutions. Create an action plan, do some research, and present it to your supervisor.
Own your mistakes and learn from them. Taking initiative can be a huge risk. You are bound to make mistakes, everyone does. The most important thing an Intern (or anyone) can do after making a mistake, is to own it. Never try to cover it up or place blame. Admit your slip-up, find a solution, and tell your supervisor what you’ve learned from it. Just do better next time.
Ask for feedback. An Internship is a learning experience. Early on, schedule times to meet with your supervisor to discuss your goals and your progress. Often times a mid-term and final evaluation are required for Internship credit. I would argue that this is not enough feedback. If you expect to learn and grow from your Internship experience, ask for regular feedback if you’re not receiving it. It’s important to know where you stand and how you can improve.
Give feedback. Supervisors rarely receive feedback from their employees. Do not be afraid to ask questions or offer suggestions. Tell him/her how you would like to be supervised and how you learn best. Remember, relationship-building is a huge part of this experience. If you’re supervisor is doing a good job, make sure you tell them!
Keep in touch. Maintain a relationship with your supervisor, even after you’ve finished your placement. Check-in to see how your former supervisor is doing and how the organization has changed. Share your current goals and aspirations with one another– you never know when a great opportunity will present itself!
An Internship is what you put into it, so give it all you’ve got. Only you have the power to make it a rewarding, worthwhile experience.
What should you do if you’re internship is The Pits even after you’ve used this guide? Stay tuned for my next post!
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Mallory Bower, Assistant Director of Career Services, UNC-Pembroke
Mallory Bower is the Assistant Director of Career Services at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She helps college students figure out “what they want to be when they grow up” and encourages them to explore the possibilities, become engaged, and pursue the careers of their dreams. You can connect with Mallory via Twitter@MalloryBower or email mallory.bower@gmail.com.
Mallory will also guest host the HigherEdCareerCoach Show on BlogTalkRadio this Friday (May 28th) at 11 a.m. EST. We’ll be discussing the value of Twitter and other social networking methods to job seekers with Mike Severy, Director of Student Involvement and Leadership at UNC-Pembroke, and newly hired Assistant Director Becca Fick. Twitter was integral to posting the job, getting candidates and to Fick’s eventual hiring. We’ll also revisit last week’s discussion on “purpose” and what it means to people working in higher education. Plus news, events and perspectives of note in the higher ed/student affairs world. Show is scheduled for 90 minutes to allow call-ins, discussion, etc., but may end after an hour or so.
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Sean Cook has 15 years of experience working in Higher Education, as a Student Affairs Professional. He is a Certified Life and Career Coach through the Life Purpose Institute, a program accredited by the International Coach Federation. Sean also writes about career issues in higher education for our companion site, HigherEdCareerCoach.com and is a periodic contributor to the Student Affairs Collaborative Blog.
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