Taking Full Advantage of an Internship
It seems that most of today's college students understand how important an internship is on the path to finding an entry level job that can lead to a career. A recent study reports that nearly 9 out of 10 college graduates finished at least one internship. You can see why more college students and graduates value these opportunities due to the concern of employers looking for work experience from their potential employees. Once you have taken the steps to find an internship, how can you fully take advantage of it? Randall Hansen offers 12 tips not only to a successful internship but also a successful career.
12 Tips to a Successful Internship
1. Set Personal Goals- Decide on specific, reasonable objectives you want to achieve as a plan of action during your internship.
2. Have Regular Meetings with Your Supervisor- Make sure you communicate with your supervisor to keep them up-to-date on what's going on with your internship.
3. Tackle All Tasks with Enthusiasm and a Positive Attitude- No matter what assignments you're asked to complete, maintain a good spirit about them as a professional would do.
4. Avoid Negativity- Don't do anything that will rub any of your co-workers the wrong way such as complaining and being disrespectful.
5. Never Shun a Chance to Learn More about the Company/Industry- Take the time to enhance your knowledge of the company/industry you're involved with.
6. Get as Much Exposure as Possible- See what opportunities are available to take on new assignments, and meet new people; your company/industry knowledge will increase.
7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions- As an intern, you won't have all the answers. Ask questions when you don't understand something; that's the smart way to go.
8. Take Initiative- It's good to want to solve problems at work, but be sure your employer knows what you're doing so you don't go beyond your authority.
9. Find a Mentor- This is an individual within the company who has a position of high rank that looks out for your best interest. A mentor is an important source who will listen to and address your job concerns.
10. Network, Network, Network- It's a good idea to establish business relationships with management; they can offer you advice and information that can take your career to the next level.
11. Leave with Tangible Accomplishments- Once your internship is completed, gather evidence of your hard work to use as a reference when searching for future employment.
12. Enjoy Yourself- While your main priority during an internship is to learn about a particular field of study, have some fun along the way.
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