In my first article, I discussed the importance of purpose behind your every move. Washingtonians are determined to achieve a goal each day. This was, perhaps, the biggest lesson I learned thus far in Washington, DC. Now, I move on to the second biggest lesson I've learned: abnormality.
What saves a summer intern from the middle of the pack
Apathy towards your summer internship may be the quickest way to the middle of the pack, unnoticed and without promotion. I have learned that, as a summer intern in DC, one must sacrifice their normality for future success. Here are three qualities that can break a summer intern from the rest of the pack.
1. Initiative
Initiative is a quality that runs rampant in Americans. We took initiative in the Revolution, breaking away from British tyranny. We took initiative when we beat the Soviets to the moon. Why not take initiative when it comes to our future career success?
Most interns think their internship lasts only for the few months they are grabbing coffee and making copies. After spending three months in Washington, I have come to the realization that an internship is just the acorn for your future tree, and initiative can increase the growth and strength of your tree.
I was fortunate to not only have one co-intern work with me, but have that co-intern be my pledge father. Yet, I still needed to find a way to separate myself from him in regard to my talent and what I, personally, can bring to the table unique from everyone else. What could I do that he could not? What makes me unique as an intern so that my supervisor has to ask me back next summer?
After detecting what those personally unique talents were, I took the initiative to pounce on opportunities involving those qualities. It could have been the smallest project involving my unique talents or a revenue-pending project involving my talents; either way, initiative was a factor in each project I incurred. And for that reason, I defined myself as an individual within the company and one who brings certain talents to the company table that impacts the company's future.
2. Persistence
Calvin Coolidge once said, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence." Nothing could be more true as an intern, or life in general.
As an intern, I am supposed to make mistakes. If I weren't supposed to make mistakes, I would be called a CEO. I could not count on two hands how many mistakes I made this summer; however, I also cannot count on two hands how man times I learned from those mistakes.
For example, while I was a student in The Fund for American Studies, we had a site visit to the American Red Cross one Wednesday morning. The visit overlapped with my work schedule, and I forgot to tell my supervisor I was going to miss a few hours in the morning. After numerous missed texts and calls from my supervisor, and, perhaps, a hand-to-forehead "Oh crap" moment for myself, I knew I had messed up.
Although I had made a mistake by not informing my supervisor beforehand of my schedule, my supervisor understood that this was a learning moment. Was my supervisor happy? Of course not. But I had a choice between folding in that moment, or accepting my mistake and learning from it. I chose the latter. I can now say that my supervisor knew my schedule week in and week out, and I never kept him out of the loop again.
That is persistence. The willingness to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep pushing. The ability to combat adversity and overcome obstacles, to always fight. Persistence accurately describes a summer internship, doesn't it?
3. Networking and Business Development
What supervisor doesn't like new opportunities for business and revenue? Networking and developing business on your own is something every intern can do. And the beauty of it, is that it doesn't take a computer or app, it just takes you.
This summer, I've realized that you never know who you are going to be sitting by on the Metro, or say "hi" to on the street. They could be your next network connection. Utilize the people around you to build not only your internship site's business, but your own personal network as well.
Touching back on the previous point of persistence, let's say you have accidentally made a mistake in your internship. Do you need a way to get out of the doghouse? Go out and bring in new business. Find another professional out there who you think would be a great contact for your supervisor, or a business that matches your company's initiative. Your boss will be more than pleased.
Take advantage of your social media accounts. Washington has been a tremendous stage for me to showcase my summer via social media. Did you just contribute to a new business deal as an intern? Put it on Twitter or LinkedIn (but double-check with your boss first). Think of the great opportunities that have been given to you through your internship and let your network know. Other professionals will see it and, who knows, maybe those professionals offer you your next internship.
Networking and business development are skills, and as skills they require practice. Your internship phase of your professional career is the perfect time to work on those skills. It will give you a step up on other individuals you find yourself competing with for the next great job opportunity.
These three points - initiative, persistence, and networking/business development - have been key factors in distinguishing myself this summer in DC. They have guided me through tough times, led me to new connections and mentors, and made DC an outstanding experience. I urge you to think about what distinguishes you from the pack and pursue what makes you unique.
