Making the Most of Internship Experiences:

How to Turn an Average Internship into a Positive Career Step

By Kelli Schutte and Beth Cok

Calvin College

 

Higher education is utilizing experiential education as a learning tool for a growing number of students. The students are placed in work assignments called internships or cooperative education. These opportunities allow them to integrate the theory from the classroom into practical hands on work experience. Students can experience significant growth during this time if they are willing to take full advantage of the learning options that are presented. This article will present some practical suggestions for turning your internship into a positive career step.

 

Both the internship placement search and the internship itself give you many opportunities to start to develop a networking contact list. While you are working in your internship you will have the chance to interact with a large number of individuals. Start writing down names, phone numbers, and notes about people you meet that could later be excellent individuals to contact when you are looking for a full-time position after graduation.

 

An internship also gives you an excellent opportunity to develop a portfolio. A portfolio is an outstanding tool to use for future interviews. A copy of your work product can be an effective visual benefit to you. When you complete brochures, web site design, research, or reports, they can demonstrate past successes that can translate into future performance predictions. As you complete projects, ask your employer if you can retain a copy of your work product to be used in your portfolio. Sometimes there can be security or competition protection issues involved in the work you have completed.

 

Assessing the nature of the various functions of business is another suggestion for increasing the effectiveness of your internship. Many students who engage in internships find themselves understanding a piece of the business such as marketing, accounting or finance. However, they fail to understand how each function fits together to make the business function as a whole. With permission from your supervisor, talk to individuals from other departments within your organization. Prepare a list of questions that will help you understand their department functions.

 

By taking an integrated approach to business, you are better able to see how business functions are interrelated, thus better equipping you to understand their jobs. In addition, by looking at the business as a whole you can more adequately assess which area best suits your abilities. This is crucial information when starting a job search and can help you avoid making a first job mistake.

 

To broaden your education further, it is helpful to obtain a better understanding of the industry. Ask your supervisor for industry information suggestions, including industry reports and publications. If you are considering a career in this industry, join an industry organization to learn about other employers and to assist in developing contacts in this field.

 

Taking initiative to delve into new projects allows you to see things from a different perspective. Volunteer for project work whenever possible. Project work is perfect for internships since there is a beginning and end to the work and it often fits well in your timeframe. Always ask permission from your supervisor before volunteering for involvement outside of your specific function area. Look for possible areas that could use improvement within your department and make suggestions for potential projects. If you see a need, make sure to prepare a plan along with the reasoning for completing the project.

 

A growing trend in higher education is the use of reflection as a means to understand experience. Many experiential education programs are incorporating this tool into their curriculum. We have found it to be a very valuable means to facilitate growth for the following reasons:

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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