Now that you've landed that coveted internship, what can you expect? And what is the best way to make the most out of it? Here are five tips to succeeding and really learning:
1. Arrive early, stay late. This will show your dedication and drive to excel and learn the most you can. It's important to be able to have references for future jobs and if your supervisor can speak to your punctuality, you'll definitely be looked at as a stronger candidate. If you begin to slack and are late, then you may be looked upon as unreliable and disinterested. Kevin Johnson, the head athletic trainer of NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, is definitely supportive of this "Arrive Early, Stay Late" attitude. Check out his story here.
2. Do what's asked of you. Though it may be frustrating to be sitting at the copy machine for a majority of the day or sorting through tons of mail, you must remember that you need to pay your dues in order to get to the top. A lot of internships do give you hands-on experience in your field, but sometimes you need to do the tasks that no one else wants to do. It's unfortunate, but it happens. However, if you are not learning anything from your colleagues or are being forced to do things you don't feel comfortable doing, you may want to talk to someone in charge. You're an intern, not a slave.
3. Observe. Be sure to watch the tasks that full-time employees complete. If you're at an internship, it's probably because you're interested in the company or industry. By watching the daily job functions of those who have been at their job for a while, you'll be able to get a sense of what working in the real world will actually entail.
4. Ask questions. Working is a learning experience, even after you've joined the real world ranks. It's likely that your superiors know more than you do, but even they are still learning things themselves. Ask them about anything you are unsure of because they've already been in your position. Many supervisors are interested in you as a person and your personal goals. Talk to them about what you want to do because you can get some good advice that's not just about the company.
5. Explore. See if you can get a taste of the different departments that exist within the company. You'll get a better understanding of how the company works as a whole, while checking into different concentrations. Maybe you're more interested in marketing, rather than accounting. You never know unless you explore the endless opportunities that are just waiting for you.
Last points to remember:
- Write your supervisor a thank you note at the end of your internship. It shows that you appreciate what they've taught you and it's just plain polite to do so.
- Make sure you have the email addresses and phone numbers of your supervisor and of anyone else that may be of help in the future. You'll need them as references and it's always good to network. You never know what job opportunities will come up in the future (my summer internship before my junior year turned into my full-time position when I graduated).
About the author:
http://www.collegesurfing.com/content
Amanda Fornecker is a staff writer at The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
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