How to be a great intern
You’ve finally landed that perfect internship! Your excitement is through the roof, and you know that this is the internship you’ve been dreaming of (you know, the one that doesn’t include going on coffee runs or making copies). Now what?
For many college students, landing an internship is an incredible achievement. But nowadays, simply completing an internship is not enough. Students must make the most out of an internship and leave their mark to truly find success.
It’s one thing to obtain an internship, but it’s another thing to be a great intern. Here are a few tips on how to make yourself stand out as a GREAT intern:
Be a Go-Getter
Don’t wait to be asked to do something, just do it! If you see a problem, find a solution, even if it may not be included in your role description or on your list of current project assignments. Going above and beyond what is asked of you shows that you’re eager and enthusiastic to learn more, and that you are genuinely interested in the company and the industry you are working in. Execute all of your required tasks, and then work hard to go further! Being proactive and reaching out to people and projects outside of your comfort zone shows that you aren’t afraid to jump right in! Showing initiative will help you improve your professional skills and will allow you to exceed expectations, separating you from the mediocre interns and making you stand out as a great intern.
Be a part of the team
To be a great intern, it’s important that you view yourself as a true part of the team, not just a temporary laborer. This will help you remember that everything you contribute plays a critical role in the success of the team and its objectives. Integrate yourself with the team so much that they forget you are an intern, and start to think of you as a permanent team member. Do whatever it takes to make your teammates’ jobs easier, celebrate your team’s success, and share in the blame if things don’t go as planned. Being a true team player will allow all of you thrive, and will make you seem like not just a great intern, but a great (and necessary) team member.
Speak up!
Have the courage to speak up and pitch your own ideas, or inquire about working on more assignments. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, provide ideas or correct a mistake in front of your team or fellow coworkers. Chances are if a company takes the time and money to hire interns, they want to hear the fresh approaches and opinions that a younger audience might offer. Standing out as a great intern will show when your concepts or designs are actually implemented at your employer, even long after you may not be an intern there!
Set goals
Part of being a great intern is knowing what you want to accomplish and learn during your time at your internship. Setting goals that are measurable and attainable is one of the best ways to ensure that you improve and work hard to get what you hoped for out of your internship. Once you’ve set goals, let your supervisor and team know what those goals are, to make sure that you’re all on the same page with what goals you each have for your time as an intern. At the end of your internship, you’ll know you were a great intern when you accomplished all of your goals and your supervisor’s goals for you!
Network, network, network!
Networking during your college years is one of the most important components in landing a job after graduation. As a great intern, you should connect not only with your supervisor and team, but other professionals in every department at the company. Use your internship as an opportunity to meet as many people as you can, whether it is fellow interns or the CEO. Networking and building relationships during your internship will allow you to gain valuable career advice, form a better working environment and establish networks for future employment opportunities. Being a great intern means forming meaningful relationships and creating a quality network of professionals who will support you throughout your career!