Summer is finally here, and that means tons of college students are getting their first taste of adult life through internships. Whether you're interning at a big company in New York City or you've found one on your college campus, you can learn so many things from stepping into a professional work environment for the summer. I was fortunate to intern for my local hospital's Marketing/Public Relations Department last year, and I absolutely loved it. I spent my summer editing brochures, whipping up press releases, and writing articles for the hospital's employee newsletter. This summer I've been working as an intern for a nonprofit in my town, doing communications and marketing stuff there. Being an intern isn't like what you see in the movies, though. Not every intern makes coffee all day. I actually haven't made a single cup of coffee so far. In fact, my experience has taught me that companies are thankful for interns because the employees are desperate for help. Therefore, here are a few tips to make the most out of your summer internship.
1. Know your company
You should do this before you even interview for an internship. Do some research on what your company does and what its values are. For example, I'm working for a community foundation that deals a lot with different funds and endowments. It sometimes feels like I still have no clue what all this money lingo means, but I'm constantly asking questions and researching so that when I'm asked to write an article for a brochure or the website, I know what I'm talking about. Believe me; it will make things a lot easier.
2. Show and tell your coworkers what you can do
The first couple weeks of an internship are always weird because none of the employees really know what you're capable of. Therefore, they're usually hesitant to give you any real work. If you tell them your skills or about the past projects you've worked on, you may be able to let them know that they can trust you with work. A better way to gain more projects is just to show them what you can do. Make sure the little work they give you is done exceptionally well.
3. Make friends
This is something I didn't do well during my first internship. Don't get me wrong, I loved it. They gave me so much writing and projects, and the employees were extremely nice. However, I was at a desk in this little corner with no one around me. Therefore, I didn't really go out of my way to make friends. Pretty much the only people I talked to were my supervisor and one writer who gave me a lot of work. Other than that, I didn't talk to anyone. I heard later that one employee told a family friend that I was the quietest person they'd ever met, which is not like me at all. So just go out of your way to talk to your coworkers and make friends, even if the employees are older than you. It'll make work a lot more enjoyable.
4. Always be willing to work
If it's making coffee, make the stupid coffee. If it's scanning documents or making copies, do it. Do everything you're asked to do with a smile and an enthusiastic spirit. I tell my coworkers, "I will do whatever you need me to do. I don't like having nothing to do." Believe me, making copies is much more entertaining than sitting at a desk for three hours with nothing to do. And chances are, if you do the mundane tasks for people, they'll reward you with better projects later. You're an intern, not the boss. So make a good impression by being humble.
5. Realize that your coworkers are future references
Who's going to give you that recommendation when you're applying for big-boy/girl jobs after you graduate? If you work hard at your internship and show your coworkers that you're eager to learn, chances are they'll say yes to giving you a stellar recommendation to a future employer. Therefore, show everyone you're working with what you're all about and that you take your work seriously.
6. Realize that the company you're interning for could possibly want to hire you full-time later
If you give your coworkers a good reason not to forget you, they may even want you to permenently join their team after you graduate. Maybe you can't see yourself working for the company for the rest of your life, but it sure is nice to have the option of a full-time big-kid job. Also, working there even longer in a more advanced role could give you the experience you need to later move on to something you'd rather be doing. Not to mention, having a job offer right out of college is a blessing in itself. Therefore, make a good impression, and make them want you back.
7. Always be willing to learn
Internships aren't just meant to be resume boosters. They're meant to help you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Therefore, more than anything view your internship as a learning experience. You're going to find out that there are parts of your position that you absolutely love. You may also find out that there are parts of your position that you absolutely hate. Maybe your internship with make you realize that you really are passionate about your major and are on the right track. Maybe it will make you realize that you want to do something completely different. Both of these are OK because either way, you're learning something. Therefore, use your internship as a way to learn more about yourself.
