It's no secret that internships are an amazing way for college students to break into their prospective industries, build their networks and decide whether what they're studying is actually what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Having completed eight months with one organization and having just started with a new organization, I will admit that this sort of job experience comes with sweat and tears (here's to hoping there's no blood). My experience has provided me the ability to take you on an informal exploration of some tips that will help you in your pursuits as well as challenges you could face along the way.
Be professional.
I’m hoping you all know what the word professional means, looks and acts like. Live it, love it, be it. You should be sleeping in business casual and save your three-piece suit for the daytime. Not really, but the point is that you are representing yourself, your university and the organization you’re interning for, so you should take your position seriously.
Understand your work climate; the objective, mission and overall function of the organization.
You should probably know this information before you go to interview so that a) you understand how your personal values align with the organization's values and know what you're getting yourself into and b) you can better craft your answers to interview questions. You need to understand what the goals and motivations of the organization are so that you can effectively help them reach their goals. It is also important to understand what role this organization plays within its industry. What goods or services does it provide? Who are its recurring business partners or competitors? What have you heard about the organization in the media? You have to understand how the organization views itself so you can better represent its mission and assist it in its endeavors.
Ask what your job responsibilities are.
In order to perform well, you need to know what your supervisor expects you to do and how they expect you to do it. Your supervisor will likely be happy to explain what your main tasks and responsibilities are, how they would like those tasks done and explain basic office decorum to you. I also like to ask my primary supervisor to sit down with me and go through the written job description and his/her expectations. I found this to be very helpful but terrifyingly overwhelming -- which leads us to our next point.
You’re going to feel overwhelmed.
It’s very likely you will have a pile of work to do, and you won’t know how to do at least, well, most of it. You have asked a million questions and still feel lost. That is perfectly normal. You’re adjusting to a new environment and that takes time. You may also feel like you’re drowning, as I did. During my first internship doing public relations for a nonprofit, I found myself overwhelmed and questioning whether I could really continue with my existing career plans.
When I expressed this to one of my supervisors she turned to me and said "Be glad you're not at a PR firm, when you have multiple clients there's very little consistency." At which point it took everything I had not to break down into tears (and I don't cry). Today, I'm public relations intern at a marketing firm, managing multiple clients at once, with little consistency. You're going to feel like you're drowning, but that's all part of the experience. Persevere, ask questions and be honest with your supervisor about how you're feeling.
Ask questions.
No doubt you’ve heard the phrase “There are no stupid questions.” When you’re at your internship there’s truly no such thing as a stupid question. Odds are you will have more questions than “How did you get where you are?” and “What do you recommend young professionals do to improve their standing in the industry?” (both very good questions, though). If you’re working in a large corporate or government office (or anywhere in media relations) your supervisor is going to be very busy.
Often times they’ll expect, no they’ll assume, that you know what you’re doing. You may have a very vague idea, or no clue, as to what you’re supposed to do. My first two weeks of my first internship were a disaster because I was afraid to ask questions. One of my supervisors was always flustered and gave me very short directions as to what she wanted, so I would return with an acceptable product, but I found that if I asked for clarification on the instructions and asked questions about the project I would have less work to edit and redo later.
Write everything down.
It’s your first day, and you’re sitting in a board meeting. You’re asking yourself, “What am I doing here, should I write this down?” Most supervisors will prolong your meeting the board, CEO and COO for later, so this is a poor personal example, but the point is that you need to write everything down. I mean everything. Who was in the meeting? Basic bullet points about what was discussed will help you later, whether it's that day or two weeks down the road. The better the notes, the better your ability to participate in future meetings.
Be assertive.
You’re sitting at a meeting again. Perhaps they’re brainstorming and you have an incredible idea. Be assertive, share what you have to say. Your personal experiences are unlike those of everyone else at that table and you may have an incredible perspective that they need to nail this project. They've likely hired you because they want a fresh perspective and insight into new technologies and methods; share what you know. Remember: You are not just an intern, you are a member of the team; don’t discriminate yourself because of your title. That title could change to assistant or coordinator as soon as your attitude changes.
Make yourself an invaluable resource.
Be intentional about your work: Do your best work and do it in a timely manner and you'll be on your way to making yourself invaluable to the organization. You have to provide a service it cannot provide itself. Maybe your skill set makes you better at completing a task, or you assist on a project they could have never done themselves. It could be something as basic as the fact that you’re a gifted writer or you have excellent analytical skills. The point is you have to give your supervisors a reason to never want you to leave.
Internships are not easy. You’ll likely do a lot of work you don’t care to do, but you’ll also get to participate in projects and develop skills you never dreamed of having at the age of 21. If you find yourself shipwrecked and drowning in shark-infested waters, it's completely normal -- but you can find support from professors in your department, the internship office at your university or the human resources department at your organization. There is a wealth of resources to support you in your pursuits and make sure you're getting what you need out of your internship, but a good starting place is always helpful. Good luck interns, may you find what you're searching for in your first professional experiences!
