Tips for a Successful Internship
I graduated from college way, way back in 1988. Yup, I'm 42 years old. That makes me ancient to virtually every student on a college campus. Back in my day, we walked 12 miles to school, through eight feet of snow, with no shoes, it was uphill in both directions, and we loved it. Oops. That was in the days of my grandparents. But I digress.
Very few Gen X'ers like me had internships. Those of us who graduated with any work experience tended to have jobs that had little to nothing to do with our career aspirations. Those going into accounting waited tables or stocked shelves, for example. Gen Y'ers are completely different. They understand that in order to have a reasonable chance of finding a good job upon graduation that they must complete at least one and preferably multiple internships. And employers are catching on too. Some 50 percent of employers expect a college graduate to have completed at least one internship. Indeed, 20 percent of employers expect a college graduate to have completed two internships. How times change.
So what should a college student to ensure a successful internship?
- Understand that employers do not participate in internships programs because they're socially conscious or charitable. They do so because internship programs are one of the best recruiting tools available. Internships are like temp-to-perm relationships. You get to try out them to see if you want to work there and they get to try out you to see if they want to hire you. If both sides are happy, there's a match and you'll likely be offered a full-time, permanent position upon graduation. Employers should extend offers to at least 75 percent of their internships if they want to have a successful internship program.
- Don't follow the herd. If your fellow interns come late, leave early, or otherwise slack off, don't follow their example. Your goal is to convert your internship into a full-time, permanent position upon graduation. To do that, everything that you do must be for the benefit of your employer. Coming late and leaving early are for your benefit, not your employer's, so don't.
- Expect to pay your dues by handling work assignments which you feel are beneath your level of expertise. Understand that the work needs to be done and that you're the lowest on the totem pole so it is only logical that the grunt work is assigned to you. As you gain experience and prove yourself, you'll see less of that work. But you need to prove yourself first.
- Dress for success. Many employers have a lax dress code so a lot of employees show up in jeans and t-shirts. But look around at those who in positions of authority and those who are being promoted into those positions. It is pretty unlikely that they dress that way. If you want to succeed, dress for the part.
- Don't be afraid to admit that you don't understand how to get the job done. Ask for help, guidance, and training. Employers expect interns to be less than fully productive. It is part of the bargain. Be proactive and ask for help you need as early as possible so that you don't turn in work that is late or of poor quality. Late or poor quality work will reflect poorly upon you. Asking for help won't.
- Network like crazy. Go to lunch with your co-workers at most once a week. Every other day go to lunch with someone who is at least a year and preferably five or more years ahead of you. Seek out people in different departments or areas of the organization. Get as many people to know you as possible. Your employer may love the work you did but not have an opportunity for you in the area for which you interned but there may be an opportunity in a different area. If the manager of that area knows you, who do you think she's going to want to hire first?
Source: Jessica Bahr, Brazen Careerist
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