Among all of the extracurricular activities I am involved in, internships have been instrumental in shaping the professional I am today. My internship experiences have taught me about who I am, what skills/strengths I bring to a workplace and how to behave in professional environments.
Be confident in your abilities.
The classes and experiences you’ve had during college have taught you valuable things. Apply what you’ve learned at school to the work place and be confident about what you can do. You have the potential to impact your coworkers and workplace, but you have to be confident and do it.
Don’t be afraid to admit when you need help.
While you’ve learned lessons in college, you still do not know everything. There are many tasks you will not know how to do at your internship, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your supervisor would rather explain it to you at the beginning of the project than have you waste time trying to figure it out.
Being on time is necessary.
Being on time to your internship and any meetings during your time at your internship is crucial because you want to be reliable. You want to earn the respect of your coworkers and that respect starts with small things like being on time. Also, you don’t want to miss anything by being late to a meeting.
Ask for additional projects if you have the time.
Asking for additional work if you’re moving through your to-do list quickly shows the initiative and interest in the company that supervisors like.
Take in all you can.
You are likely only at your internship for a limited amount of time so make the most of it. Don’t forget to stop once in a while a look around. You’ll create memories that you’ll hold onto for a long time.
Be willing to do anything.
As an intern, you may be asked to do jobs that are not so glamorous. Don’t complain about doing these jobs or refuse to do them. Interns who are willing to do anything are more likely to get more exciting jobs later because they paid their dues earlier.
Networking is beneficial for you in the long run.
Introduce yourself to everyone you work with at your internship. You never know who could give you a connection for another internship or job.
Try to leave behind a good impression on everyone you meet.
This goes hand-in-hand with the importance of networking. When you leave a good impression on your coworkers, they will remember you. If there’s a job opening at that company when you graduate, they’ll be more likely to hire you if you really stood out.
Always finish projects that are given to you.
This should be common sense. Don’t wait until your supervisor asks you about a project to do it. Be self-sufficient in managing your tasks and follow up with your supervisor when you are finished.
Finish projects by the deadline.
All students have probably turned in a late assignment sometime. You might’ve gotten a few points off but it wasn’t the end of the world. The real world isn’t like that. When there is a deadline at your internship, it is there because that’s when the task needs to be done. Make sure you meet deadlines.
Always dress professionally unless told otherwise.
What you wear makes a difference in the impression you make on your coworkers. If you aren’t sure when to wear on your first day, dress in business professional attire. You would rather stick out the first day as being a little too dressed up than underdressed.
If you truly enjoy what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work.
Some internships take up many clock hours. If you truly enjoy the work you’re doing, it won’t feel like work. You’ll look forward to going to your internship. If you are lucky enough to get an internship that falls into this category, you should look into that profession for your post-college life.
