How to Make The Most of Your Internship
Last updated December 19, 2023
Landed an internship and want to make a lasting impression while learning and growing your professional skills? Here are five ways to make the most out of your internship!
Create new relationships
Internships provide a great opportunity to grow your network and meet new people! Your professional relationships typically make up your network– the people you know in a professional capacity who can potentially help you find your next job opportunity. Introduce yourself to your new coworkers, join workplace social events, and learn about the work being done where you're interning.
Set personal and professional goals
Your internship is a great time to work on specific skills or explore a potential career path– but to do them efficiently, you need to set goals! Make sure you're clear about what you want to accomplish (being as detailed as possible) and set a deadline for each. This will help you stay on track and adjust your goals if needed.
Take initiative
Your internship could sometimes be challenging, busy, or jam-packed with responsibilities. Other times, however, you may find yourself with fewer items on your to-do list. Don’t wait to be told what to do! This is the perfect time to take initiative and ask for new assignments or tasks. Going above and beyond shows your supervisor that you're driven and can work independently– qualities that increase the likelihood of getting an invite back or being offered a permanent position!
Find a mentor
A mentor can help you grow your interpersonal and professional skills both during and after your internship. Mentors can give you advice, write you a letter of recommendation for future job opportunities, and help you make important connections throughout your career. If you build a postive rapport with a coworker or supervisor at your internship, consider asking them if they would be open to mentoring you!
Keep a journal of the experience
Take time during your internship to write out not only what you did each day, but the exciting moments, the way successes (and missteps) made you feel, and questions you have about the experience overall. Keeping this type of log may be required by your school (if you're in college) or the organization you're interning for, so be sure to check and see what information you should be collecting throughout your time as an intern. Lastly, if you’re thinking about trying out a new job or preparing for an interview, you can reread your journal and reflect on your experience!
Looking to land an internship to put these tips into action? Here are places you can start your search! Have any questions about internships? Text #Jobs to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!