Six Ways To Succeed As An Intern This Year

Internships are the best way to try out different areas and see what you like to do—in other words, getting your feet wet and gaining that clichéd but valuable “real-world experience.” They’re also becoming an essential résumé component for college students applying for post-grad jobs. Internship experience allows you to stand out and show off your skills to potential employers, and it teaches you much more than a lecture or a textbook ever could.

Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your internship experience.

Be enthusiastic.
Even if your supervisor gives you tasks that seem trivial, unimportant or like busy work, just smile and do it with enthusiasm. You don’t want your boss or co-workers to see you as a complainer, but as an intern who is positive in all situations. Be proactive by asking questions, always taking notes and going the extra mile to surpass your supervisor’s expectations. Also, remember that sometimes things that seem insignificant to you may have a big impact on the business.

Be on time.
Just being present is a big part of any internship. Arriving on time (or even better, a few minutes early) and not leaving early shows that you’re serious about the job and you’re willing to put in the time and effort necessary to succeed. Rolling in 15 minutes late every day or heading out early tells employers that you don’t care enough and you don’t take the internship very seriously.

Ask questions.
You’re a student! No one expects you to have all the answers. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you’re not sure what to do. However, do your research before going to your boss—if it’s something that can be easily figured out with the help of Google, then Google it. Asking for feedback is another asset you have as an intern. Ask your supervisor what they think you’re doing well and what skills you need to improve.

Try new things.
As a student, you’re obviously less experienced than the company’s executives. You probably don’t have your entire future career path mapped out to a T. To figure out what aspects of the industry you like and don’t like, try a variety of new things to narrow your focus and see which careers are the best fit for your skill set. Whether it’s considering an internship in a different field than your major or just completing tasks that aren’t something you’ve done before, trying as many new things as possible will give you an invaluable chance to see what you’re passionate about, what you don’t like as much, and what you’re good at.

Learn from your mistakes.
As an intern, it’s a given that you won’t do everything perfectly. With that being said, take criticism and corrections gracefully and work on improving that skill so that you aren’t making the same mistake time and time again. Use every aspect of the internship as a learning experience—after all, that’s what you’re there for, right?

Be respectful.
It should go without saying that you need to be respectful, kind and helpful to everyone you might meet or interact with during the course of your internship. Not only is it the right and courteous thing to do, but you also don’t want to burn bridges. Every person you meet could be a connection or a reference you’ll need later on.