How To Get The Most Out Of Your Internship Experience
Posted On: May 1st, 2008 @ 9:47AM
By Linda Greene
Executive Director
WISE Services
You’ve researched your field, contacted possible placements, made calls, and landed the internship you wanted. So you’re all set? Not quite! To make the most of your internship, here are some tips to turn your weeks or months as an intern into a truly worthwhile learning experience.
1) Set goals for your internship. What do you hope to get out of your experience?
What do you hope to learn? Which skills would you like to develop? Where in the organization would you like to work? Which people in the placement are those you wish to work with? Who else can help you? By setting goals, you will give your internship experience some direction and a way by which to measure the experience at its conclusion.
2) Meet with your supervisor and make sure you communicate what you hope to gain from your internship experience. Listen to his or her suggestions regarding how you will be used as an intern, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you want if it’s not initially offered to you. You will, of course, be more successful in this discussion if you are respectful and well prepared (here is another way setting some goals will be of use!)
3) Keep a journal of your experiences. By documenting your daily work activities and keeping track of the people you meet, you’ll have the information you need to summarize your experience in your resume and a record of your internship for future reference. Reflections on the experience will help you remember more about it and make the journal fun to read in the future. Keep updating your goals and make lists of things you hope to do and accomplish as the internship progresses. How are you doing on meeting the goals you set for your learning and for skill development?
4) Try to make contacts and develop relationships within the organization. These will be of use in the future when you’re looking for a job (perhaps within this same organization!) and when you need references. Respect people’s need to get their job done – they might not have time to chat with you, but if they do, use that time to learn as much as you can about the work they do and what preparation they have had. What recommendations would they make to you as you get ready for the job world?
5) Keep the communication lines open. If you’re not happy with your placement or the duties assigned to you, try to find ways to demonstrate your abilities and your knowledge.
Talk to your supervisor so they know you’re seeking another type of experience or more hands-on opportunities.
6) Stay positive. No matter how good or not so good your internship is, it still counts as experience. Some times internships help you realize you’ve been on the wrong track with your job interests. Maybe the fit isn’t good and you should think about changing your focus and direction. That’s a good thing to learn early in your career, so don’t feel “down†about it. It’s a job to add to your resume and a set of experiences you can draw on in the future. Be sure to thank those people who have helped you and keep in touch with them for the future. Good luck and enjoy your internship!
Linda Greene is the Executive Director of WISE Services, a not-for-profit organization which assists schools in developing a program of individualized, student-designed, and interest-driven projects and internships. Over 80 high schools across the U.S. have started WISE Programs. If you are interested in the program, please contact wiselindag@optonline.net.
