How to be successful in an internship
Starting an intership can be really nerve-wracking. There's lots of new people to meet, you want to make a good impression and want to learn a lot.
Here are some tips for you so you can ace that internship, gain confidence and get some great job experience!
Show initiative
Being prepared for the agenda of meetings at an intership can look like knowing what is being talked about and who is talking. Stay observant and don't be afraid to offer up ideas or ask questions. If you're asked to contribute, being informed and showing that you can listen proactively, even just so you can ask some questions is great!
Be prepared to introduce yourself to people you haven't met, though do give the meeting's organiser the opportunity to do this first as you are not running the meeting.
Practise your introduction, keep it brief and don't be afraid to show your personality. You might share with the group the nature of your internship, what course you are studying, what interests you about the organisation and what you hope to learn/contribute. You want to prepare in the same way that you would for your first team meeting with colleagues.
Show your interest
Take an interest in developments taking place within the organisation/sector and always show a willingness to collaborate with others and help in any way you can. This includes helping and working with other interns. Remember it is highly likely you have skills and perspectives your employer will want to utilise.
Express interest in any online training, professional development or planning sessions offered by the organisation that might be appropriate for you to attend. This may be dependent on the nature and duration of your internship.
Ask questions
Whilst showing initiative and resourcefulness is great, it is important you clarify any tasks that are unclear so you can put forward your best work.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your work. This demonstrates interest, good judgement, and a willingness to receive constructive comments. Remember, your supervisor was in your shoes once.
Show an interest in others and their work and ask them how they are. Getting to know others in the office is important in building good rapport, but will also help you feel confident to speak up in meetings and to ask questions.
Be proactive about catch-ups
If your supervisor hasn’t arranged a regular meeting, suggest one. You might also ask if it would be possible for you to have a brief chat with some key people working in different divisions within the organisation so that you can learn about their various roles.
In addition to providing you with the opportunity to meet people and impress, this helps to broaden your professional network and provides insights into future work opportunities that might interest you. If it's appropriate, you might connect with them on LinkedIn.
Don't be offended if some staff are too busy to meet you, but do thank those who share their insights with you.
