Getting your foot in the door by landing the internship or co-op is only half of the challenge in turning your career dreams into a reality. The more vital half is to build a reputation during this career experience that might culminate in receiving a full-time job offer.
10 tips on Succeeding in Your Internship...and making powerful career moves
- Exhibit a Can-Do Attitude. Attitude speaks loud and clear and makes a lasting impression, so make sure that yours
is one of your greatest assets. Take on any task assigned—no matter how small—with
enthusiasm. Take the initiative to acquire new skills. Accept criticism graciously and
maintain a sense of humor.
- Learn the Unwritten Rules. Get to know your co-workers early in your internship. They will help you figure out
quickly the culture in which you will be working. You will need to adapt, observe, learn,
and process a large volume of information. Watch closely how things get done, ask
questions, and pay attention to how people interact with each other.
- Take Your Assignments Seriously. Build a reputation for being dependable, diligent, and accurate. You may encounter a
great deal of ambiguity in the work environment, so ask questions and seek direction
when in doubt and do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Learn from your errors and move on to your next task. From there, your responsibilities
and the expectations of others are likely to grow.
- Meet Deadlines. Always assume the responsibility to ask when an assignment is due. This will help you
understand your supervisor’s priorities and manage your time accordingly. Alert your
boss in advance if you will be unable to meet expectations. This shows respect and professional maturity
- Set Realistic Goals and Expectations. Establish correlations between your learning goals and the daily work you are asked to
perform; maintain a journal of your activities and accomplishments in order to monitor your progress; request regular reviews from your supervisor to assess your performance.
Reinforce the fact that you mean business.
- Communicate Respectfully. Assume that everyone else knows more than you do. However, don’t be afraid to present
useful ideas that may save time or money or solve problems. Just make sure that your
style does not come across as "cocky." Employers value ssertiveness but not aggressiveness.
Find out the proper way to address individuals, including customers, and
maintain a pleasant, respectful demeanor with every person, regardless of his or her rank.
- Be Flexible. Accept a wide variety of tasks, even those that may not relate directly to your assignments
or those that may seem like grunt work. Your willingness to go the extra mile,
especially during “crunch time,” will pave the way to assuming greater responsibilities.
- Be a Team Player. Learn how your assignment fits into the grand scheme of things and keep a keen eye on
getting the job done. In today’s work environment, success is often defined as your
ability to get along and interact with others. You’re a winner only if your team wins.
- Find a Mentor. Identify at least one individual to serve as your mentor or professional guardian. It should
be someone who is willing to take a personal interest in your career development and
success. Begin to network wisely, and get “plugged in” by associating with seasoned
employees who may share their knowledge, perspectives, and insights. Get noticedmany
more people will have a role in determining your future than you might realize.
- Have Fun! Last but not least, enjoy learning, sharpening your skills, and developing professionally
and personally. Participate in work-related social functions and become an active
member in your work community.
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