This week, I'm coming to you from Wormhole Coffee in Wicker Park, Chicago. I just got "off work," AKA I just left my internship at UP Comedy Club for the day. It isn't a true 9-5 job as a marketing intern. I am still learning everything my boss wants from me, and today, the former intern throw a crap ton of information at me. There are several weekly or monthly documents that I will be responsible for all the time. It isn't quite overwhelming yet but it is surely getting there.
Summer is such a valuable time as a junior or senior in college. Instead of planning a bunch of road trips of a big trip overseas, I get to work in the offices of The Second City and live in Chicago. This is an adventure in itself. As a new college intern, there are several bits of wisdom or heads up I want to leave you with if you're in the same boat as me or are beginning your internship search.
First of all, don't be disappointed if you aren't doing "big and exciting things" from the get go. Being an intern is about getting your foot in the door and being an extra set of hands or pair of eyes. You are there to do whatever your boss or other people in the office need to do. For me, that could be data entry or research about a new comedian coming to our venue. For others, it could be making copies and doing a coffee run. I encourage you to have a special summer project to work on, though. Talk to your supervisor about your goals and see if you can work out something. But always do what is asked of you, even if it is the small stuff. And always have a smile on your face.
On that note, treat even the smallest of tasks as if it is the single most important project happening in the office. If you're asked to go on a coffee run, ask if they want a snack too. If you're asked to clean something, treat it as if that cup or floor is the most precious and most dirty object you've ever cleaned. Go above and beyond on everything you work on, and ask for advice if you need to.
Third, and this may be the most important lesson that I have heard since being in my internship program, "If you get through your internship and realize this is not the career path for you, it is not the end of the world." To some, this is life-shattering news. "Oh my god, I spent all four years going to school for something and finally intern with a company in my field. I hate it." Actually, that's great. You tried and learned something about yourself. You now know to pursue something else. Maybe there is another dimension of what you studied beyond your actual internship. Maybe you change career paths altogether. Maybe you just need to work for another company. Whatever it may be, not loving your internship is going to happen to some of you. Use that to fuel your fire to pursue either another career or just another avenue of your industry.
Keep your chin up. Internships are all about learning.
