My first internship taught me a lot but most of the stuff I learned had nothing to do with my area of study. This summer, I interned at a Major League Baseball stadium. My position there was a concession stand supervisor, studying how management worked in the Hospitality Industry. Working at the ball park, I did learn the basics of management, safety procedures, handling inventory, etc. from my employer. But there were a few things that were not in the training or the employee hand book that I had to learn or figure out on my own; if I hadn't already.
1. Ask questions when you have them.
Seems simple, but you'd be surprised how many times people don't ask questions then it turns around and bites them in the butt later. It never hurts to ask a question, trust me you will be happy in the long run you asked then rather than waiting until last minute.
2. Put all your effort into every task.
There are times when you will want to blow off a task and act like you put it all your effort but again it will bite you in the butt. Do the task the first time right, or you will have to do it again.
3. You may miss out on stuff outside of the internship.
Unfortunately, you will miss out of events and other things. You may miss out on birthdays, parties, vacations, concerts, your best friend's cousin's friend's fish's funeral, and more. But at the end of the day just remember this internship is to help you. It will help you better yourself, your resume, and your experience. Do not skip a day of your internship to do something else unless it is an emergency.
4. Respect everyone all the time.
There will be times where people will piss you off and you want to go head to head with them but don't. Just stay calm and give them respect even if you think they don't deserve it. Once you calm down, you will be proud that you didn't snap.
5. Uniforms Suck.
Having to wear a uniform flat out sucks. Most of the time they are unflattering, uncomfortable, and ugly. When you are only issued two shirts, they start to smell no matter how many times you wash them.
6. Be prepared for anything.
Each day is different meaning life will throw anything at you. Be ready there are no warnings, take what life gives you and try to handle it as best as possible. If your boss sees you handled something really well, it might pay off in the end.
7. Pay attention to every detail.
No matter what you are doing there is small things you will pass up. Look for every small detail in your work. It is something your boss will notice you do and it will create a better habit for yourself.
8. Make connections. It's all about who you know, not what you know.
You will meet a lot of people during your internship. People who might be in higher positions and get you jobs in positions higher than an intern. Stay in touch with fellow interns, employees, your boss, and other people you meet during your internship. You never know, they could help you down the line get another job.
9. Use what you learn during your internship outside of your internship to better yourself.
Working at a ball park concession stand, I learned a lot about food safety. What I learned about food safety was on a larger scale than what I was taught at home. Do not be afraid to take what you learn at your internship home. You might be surprised, it could improve your life.
10. Make the most of this internship.
This internship will help you determine a career path. If you liked it, then go into this line of work. If you didn't like it, then find something else. Use the internship as a learning experience, use it to your advantage in any way possible.
