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Internship Related Programs | Pursuing an Internship |
During an Internship | After an Internship
Prepare for Your Internship
In the past, having an internship on your resume distinguished you from other students and gave you a competitive edge in the job market. Because the majority of today's graduating students have completed at least one internship, it's more important than ever to maximize your internship experiences in order to distinguish yourself from other interns and learn as much as you can to prepare you for future experiences. The following provides a list of suggested activities that will help you get ready for day one.
- Attitude is one of the most important factors going into an internship and successful interns demonstrate the ability to be proactive and an eagerness to learn.
- Interns should also demonstrate a hunger for knowledge, the ability to ask good questions, and to be open minded.
- Interns should make good use of their networking opportunities, be flexible, and be comfortable dealing with ambiguity.
- Successful interns are energetic, dynamic, able rise to a challenge, and seek to learn everything they can.
- Interns should also come to their first day prepared by having a solid understanding of the organization, its key functions and clients, and its chief competitors.
Create a Learning Agenda
According to the National Society for Experiential Education, "The important element that distinguishes an internship from a short-term job or community service is the intentional 'learning agenda' that the intern brings to the experience". A learning agenda is an outline of your learning goals, whether they are related to academic, career, skill, or personal development. More than an outline though, it is a tool that empowers you to manage your own experience and what you learn from that experience.
A learning agenda will help you to carefully consider what you hope to get out of the experience, and to help you communicate those expectations to your supervisor. This reflection time will help to set the tone with your supervisor, showing you are serious about learning and that you are interested in taking on real tasks.
Demonstrate Professionalism
Demonstrating professionalism is a sure way to impress your supervisor and colleagues.
Below are recommendations to demonstrate your level of professionalism:
Be Responsible: Arrive on time, work hard and use your time efficiently. Being responsible is a great step towards demonstrating your integrity and worth.
Take Initiative: If you are finding yourself with down-time, communicate this information respectfully to your supervisor. If there is a project that interests you, volunteer to help. If a coworker is attending a seminar, ask to go along.
Be Self-Sufficient: Self-sufficient doesn't mean you cannot ask questions or request additional help; instead learn to identify resources that can assist you in answering questions on your own. After utilizing the resources available to you, consult with your supervisor to ensure that you are on the right track.
Display Energy and Enthusiasm: The most successful interns are those that display an upbeat attitude and a genuine interest or positive outlook in performing their roles.
Have the Right Attitude: Obviously nobody wants to just run errands or make copies all day, but expect a certain amount of mundane tasks in any position and maintain a good attitude about the work. Do the best job that you can on every project no matter how small, as quality counts!
Observe your Environment and Colleagues: Professionalism is shaped by an organization's culture. As a result, it is important to observe your colleagues and to identify those qualities that comprise professionalism in your specific setting.
Find a Mentor
Mentors are individuals who that take an interest in your professional career and offer support and guidance. As an intern, you may not have a mentor assigned to you. Some of the role of a mentor will be fulfilled by your supervisor, however, consider networking while on your internship, attending professional association meetings or other industry-related events that will allow you to interact with older professionals. If you have the opportunity to get to know a working professional, consider asking them to mentor you.
Develop a Portfolio
A portfolio is a marketing tool you can develop to use in your future job search. Items that might be included in your portfolio include copies/summaries of completed projects, positive performance reviews/supervisor feedback, and letters of recommendation. Your portfolio can accompany you on an interview and may be referenced as you talk about previous projects and experiences.
On some occasions you may be asked to leave your portfolio behind for further viewing opportunity. To prepare for such and occasion, you can either plan to return a day or so after the interview to retrieve it, or you can prepare a smaller, condensed, and less expensive version to leave with the employer. Some students choose to create a website or a portfolio storage site to house their portfolio information. If you choose this option, you could include the address of your portfolio on your resume.
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