If you will be interning soon (or are currently an intern) this is what you need to know to be a successful intern! I include advice for how to be a successful intern and how to have a good internship experience based on my past experiences from interning. I completed two internships during my college career and I was invited to stay on and continue interning at both companies after my initial internships ended. This would not have occurred if I was not a successful intern and so I wanted to share the internship tips with you! I wanted to provide information and advice and what I learned about being a good intern and I hope you find it helpful!
I also have a post with tips for how to get an internship, you can read it here!
Below are the tips for how to be a good intern, in no particular order.
1. Make sure you know what is expected of you. Know the main task(s) you might do daily or weekly, or if you have a project that will be due at the end of the internship. You need to know what the company envisions so that way you can meet their expectations. In general try to have a good level of communication with your supervisor specifically.
2. You get what you put in. Internships are not perfect but you can learn so much by showing interest in certain things at the company. If you put in hard work and do things to the best of your ability that will be noticed. If you do the bare minimum that will also be noticed and people may not be as willing to teach you things or have you help them with something. It is in the best interest of the company and of yourself if you always give your best effort.
3. Try to get to know as many people as you can, even if they're not in your department. It is good to show you're friendly and willing to help out in whatever ways you can. Again this will show that you are genuinely interested in the company and it is always good to make connections in case you'll need them in the future. (But don't be annoying and pester people when they're busy, find an appropriate time to talk to them).
4. Ask questions if you don't understand something. It's much better to ask for clarification rather than not ask and make a mistake or do something wrong. Doing something incorrectly is more embarrassing than asking a question. Completing a task the wrong way would be a waste of time and not a good demonstration of your work abilities. (It is okay to make a mistake since no one is perfect but if it can be avoided that is the better route). Also asking people questions about what you are curious about in regard to the company will help you have a better understanding of it. This in turn will improve how you complete your tasks for the company.
5. If you finish a task, check over your work and then let your supervisor or whoever you were doing the task for know you are done. Then ask if there is something else that you could help work on. Do not sit around and do nothing. It is okay to have a break for a few minutes if you're allowed to but you are there to learn and help the company so make sure that is what you are doing for the majority of your time there. Even if you ask for something to do and there isn't anything then maybe organize your desk or type up some notes you took. You want to show that you are willing to work, have a good work ethic and care about the company.
6. Even if a task seems insignificant or demeaning (like getting coffee) don't show negativity about doing it. Interns are at the bottom of the food chain in a company and don't think that you are too good to do something. Everyone has to start somewhere and work their way up! Having a positive attitude can make such a big difference in how the employees at the company view you and how they feel about you. Negative moods are contagious and I do not think that there are many people who enjoy being in a negative mood so try to be positive as much as possible. Positive moods are contagious too and if you "brighten up" a room and lift it's mood people will definitely appreciate that! (Although I said it's normal to have to do "insignificant" tasks don't let people disrespect you or take complete advantage of you).
7. Stay late to finish a task if you are able to. You need to show that you are always willing to help out and that you actually care about what you are doing and that you understand how it affects the company.
8. Take notes each day at your internship about what you're learning, what your tasks are and what skills you are developing. This will be beneficial when it's time to make a portfolio and add the experience to your resume. Also throughout your internship, taking notes will allow you to keep track of any deadlines you need to meet and will let you utilize tips you've been given (since you were able to remember them by looking back at your notes).
9. Even if the internship is not what you expected it to be, again still try your best and put your best foot forward in regards to your tasks. Don't let the unfortunate experience cause a change in your work ethic. You do not want the internship to end on a bad note between you and the company because you never know who someone from that company may know in your industry (which may affect you in the future). Also, it can be helpful to find out what you don't like to do so that way in the future you know what to try to avoid. You can still learn from every experience even if it didn't go the way you hoped.
10. Be punctual. Show up on time and be reliable. If you are going to be late let your supervisor know ahead of time. It is not a good reflection on you if you are always late, it shows that you are not mature enough to be in a real work environment and it shows that you do not actually care about the internship or the company. Demonstrating that you are responsible and dependable is very important.
I hope that you found these internship tips to be helpful! Do you have any other tips?
Thank you for reading!
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