Most colleges today make it compulsory for their students to complete an internship before getting recruited for a full-time job. Without an internship, there are even certain entry-level jobs that become seemingly impossible to get a hold of.
Internships are known to offer many different kinds of benefits, apart from the obvious aid that it lends to employment post college. They help students get insights into their preferred industries which helps them make sound career choices. Internships allow students to communicate and network with professionals that equips them for the future.
But, if you take up an internship just for the sake of it, participate half-heartedly and count the days down until the end of it, you will not be able to extract any of these benefits. Read on to find out how to make the most out of your internship experience, in order to streamline your career path.
Expand Your Knowledge
It is crucial to try and learn as much as you possibly can about a wide range of things during your internship. Find out about the industry, the kinds of job opportunities available and also their scope. Observe the professionals with full time jobs and make a note of how their work differs from your own, so that you are prepared to take it head on, later.
Learn the intricacies of the management system of the company you’re interning for, and look out for the hierarchies. In what manner is it organized? How does the company culture reflect on providing accolades to valuable employees? Think about your future : do you see yourself settling into a role in this company? When you are interviewed for a full-time job in the future, you will be asked about what kind of environment you prefer working in as well as the kind of work you prefer to do. Having firsthand knowledge from internships will help you respond with an informed answer.
Build Confidence in Workplace Practices
If most of your projects revolved around interacting with peers your own age and maybe your teachers, internships offer you a great opportunity to immerse yourself in office culture. You get familiar with how offices function, what are the elements of pre-meeting conversations, how to address colleagues in emails, etc.
It also helps to keep in mind that learning and employing industry-specific jargon will come in handy — not only for interviews, but also in decoding job postings and writing proper cover letters. So, keep a track of tools and techniques being used in the office!
Broaden Your Skills and Log What You Do
During the course of your internship, you will probably learn how to write your very first newsletter and maybe even learn how to operate computer software that was unknown to you. You will create schedules and manage projects — all of these things will help you learn new things. Skills that are picked up due to hands-on involvement almost always trump theoretical knowledge.
Try and make a log of all the tasks you do — even the simple ones, such as reaching out to your coworkers regarding the information to include in a daily email. Keeping these notes will help in boosting your resume when you are writing your job description.
Lastly, it is crucial to remember that your internship is mainly to help you learn, more than you helping the company. Make dedicated notes during meetings and then ask questions to clarify your doubts. Keep an ear out for all the stories, resources and tips being mentioned that are relevant to the tasks at hand, and make sure to do some of your own research.
Ask for Feedback
If you find yourself feeling frustrated about being a newbie, remember that you are not expected to know everything. Use this opportunity to ask as many questions as you can.
Seeking feedback from managers and colleagues will help you realise where you can improve. It can be quite painful to hear criticism, but knowing it now will prevent you from committing blunders in the future.
Form Connections and Find a Mentor
Being a part of a group of interns will help you form relationships that will go on to last a lifetime. Socializing with your peers at appropriate times is a good way to ensure that you remain in touch with people who are in the same field as you. You can even ask your coworkers to coffee or try and sit with them at lunch!
Most of all, try and find career mentors who will be there to provide help, give you advice, and solve your doubts. They are the ones that will help you make important connections in the industry and write illustrious recommendations for you. To begin with, you can start by asking how a coworker got to where they are currently. Conversations such as these serve as ice breakers towards a mentorship, which will actually become a driving force throughout your career.
