Summer. The 3 months of the year that we spend the other 9 months begging for. It’s not too long before your parents start nagging you to “take control of your life” and “make something of yourself this summer.” So, come summer time you unwillingly find yourself in an office that weirdly reminds you of a prison cell with your only access to freedom being your lunch break. But this isn’t the time to fret. Here are 5 ways to make the most of your summer internship.
1. Establish Connections with Your Co-Workers
Get to know the full time employees well. Bond over whatever you have to because these people will be great when it comes to having mentors or future references once you graduate. Make friends with the other fellow summer interns. They are going through the exact same thing you are so you consistently have someone to complain to about how tired you are or how “that one girl in purchasing won’t email you back.” Not only that, but if you get on their good side you will always have updates on which department has food and coffee. This is a necessity come two hours into your shift where your lack of sleep is finally catching up on you. Warning: as much as you really want to talk to that cute guy in another department, just don’t. No “swiping right” on that recent grad that works there full time; there is no good to come from that. Focus on the connections and the food and you’ll be just fine.
2. Go Above and Beyond
Don’t just mindlessly do your work. Focus on what you are doing and do it to the best of your ability. Even if you are just copying and pasting data or filing away papers, make sure you are still working quickly and efficiently. You’re getting paid (either in experience or money, or both) to do work so make sure you’re being productive. You can always check where you are on the productivity scale by the battery charge on your phone. If you are below 50% by the time lunch rolls around you may want to reorganize your priorities. Higher productivity means more likely you’ll get asked to return leading to more money for the school year.
3. Be a Team Player
Don’t go thinking just because you are younger than most of the employees that you know more than them or are better connected to modern technology. Take your supervisors’ advice; Remember, you may have just learned something in last semester’s class but, they have been actually doing that for the past 15 years. You’re there to learn and build experience so keep your mind open and your ego down!
4. No Moping
As you’re filing paperwork or contacting company clients, there is no doubt that dreams of tequila shots in Cabo with your sisters and some cute local guys will be crossing your mind. When you go to sleep when it’s still light outside and wake up at the crack of dawn to start work at 5am, you will be crying on the inside and questioning what in the world made you decide to do this. But once you get to work put your “Disney face” on and smile your way through the pain because no one likes a downer at work, especially not your employer. Not to mention, your day is a lot more enjoyable if you focus on the positive.
5. Have Fun and Embrace it
By now you have got to accept that fact that this is your summer. You should no longer be in denial or sulk about your lack of a social life. Embrace the opportunity you’ve been given because, let’s be real, you would’ve spent your entire summer in bed watching Netflix anyway. Don’t try lying to yourself; you know it’s true. This experience is not to be taken for granted. You have had a chance to be put into the working world and now won’t be completely shocked when you’re thrown out to fend for yourself once you graduate. Though well disguised, this internship is a blessing that you should be thankful for.
Before you know it, it will be time to return to school and you’ll have to relearn what having a social life feels like. But looking back at your summer, you’ll look fondly at those hours spent answering phones, the sprints to the food truck to get mediocre tacos, and the money you now have in your pocket. Just, please, don’t go spending it all during Syllabus Week (well, at least not on any of that boxed wine crap. Go big or go home, am I right?)
