I was lucky enough to recently complete a six-month internship here at Marketing Works and I can’t believe I’m writing my last blog post. I had high hopes for what I might learn here, and I’m happy to say my experience far exceeded my expectations. There’s a lot of advice out there on how to have a successful internship, so much so that it can get a bit overwhelming and even contradictory. After a long string of internships in college and a wonderful post-grad internship, here’s my advice on how to ensure you’ll have an awesome internship:
1. Build relationships – This is so important. From the very beginning of your time as an intern, make a concentrated effort to build relationships with the people around you. If you do it the right way you have a business connection (and maybe even a friend!) for life. Everyone has such varied experiences and ways of approaching things, so find out as much as you can about the people you’re working with. Ask to get lunch with someone in your department, your treat. And it doesn’t just have to be people in your area of expertise, feel free to reach out to others in different specialties too. You can learn something new from every person you talk to, whether it’s how to handle a crazy client or the best way to prioritize your responsibilities.
2. Be brave and considerate – Those two may sound odd together, but bear with me. You were chosen because your employer wants to see what you can bring to the table, so embrace that. Offer an idea at the next meeting or suggest a more effective way to handle a common problem, and don’t let the fear of making a mistake or getting stuck in the “I’m only an intern” mindset hold you back. But this is where the considerate part comes in. In your eagerness to blaze a trail all your own, be sure to offer help to others in your office, too. You don’t want to be known as the “rude intern.” Everyone is looking for a team player, and if you’re willing to stay late or pitch in on a big project, your coworkers will be more likely to think of you when an exciting opportunity comes up.
3. Make an impact – Not too long ago I read this inspirational quote on Inc.: “If you want to know how much you’ll be missed when you are gone, put your finger in a bucket of water and then remove it. The hole that’s left will be how much you are missed.” You might be one of many interns, but it’s up to you how much you stand out. Whether your internship is for a set amount of time or will go on indefinitely, find a project to make your own. Or multiple projects. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of work, but when you look back at your time this way you can point to something you vastly improved at the company. Not only will you have made an impact, but it’s also a great addition to have on your resume.
What advice would you give to a new intern embarking on the beginning of their internship? Let us know in the comments!