The purpose of an internship is to gain valuable work experience as well as develop skills necessary for success in your career. There is much more to gain from an internship than experience and new skills. If you maximize your internship opportunity, it can lead to things such as strong recommendations and perhaps even an offer for a full-time position.
But how does one maximize their internship opportunity? One way is by consistently exhibiting positive qualities that an employer would look for in a full-time employee. Some of these qualities are problem solving, a positive attitude, as well as being coachable. As an employee, you will face a situation where you do not know what action to take. If you take the initiative and try to solve the problem yourself before potentially adding to a superior’s workload, this will be noticed and reflect positively on you. When an intern consistently displays a positive attitude, it not only makes you look better as an intern, but it maximizes your experience in a different way. Showing up to work every day with optimism will make the work feel more rewarding as a result. We are humans and it’s natural we do not always get everything right. Putting ego aside and being open to receiving knowledge is one of the most sought-after traits in an employee.
The traits listed above represent ways to make yourself stand out for the better. There also are ways to stand out for the worse. One of the biggest ways to stand out in a bad way is failure to communicate. As previously stated, you will face problems, and whether you solve them on your own or with the help of others, these are items that are important to communicate with your supervisor. If there is no line of communication established, this will make an internship experience more difficult than it needs to be. Another thing to avoid as an intern is becoming lax in your work. Your supervisor and other employees will try to make you feel welcomed and comfortable within this new environment, but it is possible for an intern to become “too comfortable” and disengage from higher performance. Remember above all else, you are interning to work and learn, so it is important to stay engaged in work for the duration of your internship.
The tools for a successful internship experience are laid out. If you remember to stay positive, communicate effectively, and be ready to learn, you will make the most of your internship experience. I wish you all luck in your endeavors this summer. Go Mount!