I always viewed an internship as another boring stepping stone on the terrifying road to adulthood. It never actually appealed to me to give up an entire summer working in a cubicle instead of laying by the pool and sleeping until noon, but suddenly I found myself in January of my junior year realizing that if I wanted to have any hope at getting a “real job” after graduation, I better actually do something with my last summer as a college student. So I set off applying to just about every position available that I thought I might have a chance of landing. Finally, I sent off one Hail Mary application to QVC, for my dream internship in Community Affairs—helping to manage all the philanthropy the company does internally and externally. Within a week I somehow managed to get an interview, and four months later, I was sitting in my very own cube with the best internship I could have asked for.
Despite knowing that I would be doing exactly what I wanted to be doing, I was still filled with a mixture of anxiety and dread over actually working. I’m an English major; it’s been drilled into my head for three years that I have no employable skills, so why was I even hired? And why did I think this was a good idea to begin with? I instantly felt that I was in way over my head.
But now, three months later, I can look back and say that this was one of the best summers of my life. Internships are not scary, and I learned more about work, being a grown-up, and what I want to do with my life than I ever thought possible. So, consider me your internship fairy godmother: I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about your first foray into the workplace, and I promise that it's going to be better than you think.
Your manager knows exactly who they hired.
Unless you flat-out lied through your entire résumé and interview process, your manager knows what to expect from you. They hired you for a reason, even if that reason is not quite clear to you. Walk in confidently and be proud of your position: whether you beat out one other applicant or a thousand others, there is something about you that made your company decide you were the best fit for the job. Own it! Your best talents will shine through if you relax and avoid trying to act like you know more than you do.
You don’t need to be the smartest guy in the room.
One of my favorite questions to ask during an interview is, “when you think about the best intern you ever worked with, what set them apart from all the rest?” Through countless interviews in a variety of organizations, the answer is the same: they ask questions. As a college student, no one expects you to know everything, and they know that the reason you are here is to learn. My first week on the job I was asked to set up an Access database. I spent about half an hour trying to figure out where to even begin, and finally mustered up the courage to admit I had absolutely no idea how to do that. I was not immediately fired, or even treated with anything but respect or kindness. My mentor sat down with me and showed me all the ins and outs of the worst facet of the Microsoft Office toolkit, and was always available to answer all of my questions as I thought of them. You don’t have to have a complete skillset on your first day on the job: don’t be afraid to ask questions first instead of apologizing for screwing up later.
You will screw up.
The first major screw-up is inevitable. I am a firm believer that something will always, always, always go wrong, so you might as well get it over with. When it happens, and it will happen, don’t run away and call your mom to tell her that you have to quit. Put on your big kid pants and explain what happened. Chances are, you’re not going to get fired or even reprimanded: so own up to your mistake and ask for the best course of action to fix it. You'll be more respected for admitting you messed up instead of waiting for someone else to discover your mistake when it's too late to fix it.
Say yes!
This should be self-explanatory; say "yes" to every opportunity given to you. Learn every single aspect of the company you're interning for, and take the time to show your interest for something that isn't quite in your wheelhouse. If there's the chance to work with other interns on a group project, absolutely do it. You will gain invaluable experience working with others whether you like them or not, and get great insight from someone who is in a different industry. If your manager asks you if there's anyone you'd like to sit down and discuss another branch of your organization with, list everyone you can think of. I was able to have an amazing tour of the studio kitchen and stand on a live set during filming, just because I emailed my manager and told her I was curious about how our culinary sales worked. If you embrace every opportunity, you'll gain way more experience than just technical skills. Plus, it never hurts to go above and beyond what is expected of you, whether it's going the extra mile on a project, or everyone in your whole building knowing you as the intern who always holds the door, just be the best version of yourself and be ready to take on a challenge.
And finally, have fun...
Spoiler alert: You will not like everything you're asked to do. Whether it's reorganizing the storage closet or licking what seems like a thousand envelopes, there is bound to be something you don't want to do that you're stuck doing anyway. On those impossibly boring days, remind yourself how lucky you are to have this opportunity, get the job done, and send another intern an IM asking to go get lunch or take a walk outside. It's so important to make the best of every day, and to be able to come home each night with something to be excited about. Whether your internship resulted in a full-time offer, or just a better idea of what you don't want to do after college, make the best of your experience and take advantage of everything it has to offer. You'll be glad that you did.
