Awesome! You landed that internship you worked so hard to get. Now what? How are you going to set yourself apart from the other interns? Follow these tips, and you’ll be sure to become a SUPER INTERN at your company!
Dress for success: Make sure that you are following the dress code for the company. If you’re not sure what to wear, go business professional for the first few days and watch what the employees wear. Another good option is to directly ask an employee what the office style is.
Be on time: Always, always, always be on time – or better yet, be early. Showing up on time proves to your boss that you’re committed to this internship and that you’re ready for a full day of work. Remember you’re on time when you’re 15 minutes early, you’re late when you’re on time.
Find a mentor: At some internships, a mentor has already been decided for you. You’ll work one-on-one with them for the most part, and also shadow other employees and helping out with their tasks. If you don’t get a mentor assigned to you, go find one! Your mentor will be able to vouch for how hard you’ve been working throughout your internship.
Ask questions: Make sure you’re asking questions to the right people at the right times. Seek help from your mentor or ask around the office when you need it. It’s much easier to ask questions and get the job done right the first time, rather than having to redo it because you were too shy to ask for help.
Take notes: Keep a pen and paper handy with you at your desk. When you’re given a list of tasks for the day, write them all down with details on how to do each one. Write down advice other employees give you and use it while you work.
Say thank you: When someone takes time out of their busy workday to help you out, say thank you. Take them out for coffee later and tell them how much you appreciate their help.
Impress them:
• Every job will ask you to do something you don’t really want to – it’s inevitable. If you’re having problems completing that report or writing that press release, ask for a fresh opinion.
• Make sure you are doing every task you’re given, without complaining. A good attitude is important.
• If you’re given a list of tasks to do each day, prioritize the list and try to accomplish everything on it – and then ask for more work. If you’re working on a long-term project, keep everyone involved updated on how you’re doing and if you need any help.
SUPER INTERN Tip: Keep track of everything you’ve accomplished. Bookmark website pages that your blogs have been posted on, cut out newspaper articles that you wrote, or save the magazine advertisements you helped create. Keeping it all in one place will help you build your resume after your internship is completed.
Intern Kryptonite
Superheroes might only have one weakness, but interns can mess up in multiple ways. Knowing what to avoid can help keep your internship safe.
Smartphones: Playing Fruit Ninja on your smartphone all day is one of the quickest ways to show your employer that you don’t care about your internship. Keep your phone with you if you want, but only answer important text messages and if you really need to answer a call, excuse yourself to the hallway and keep it brief. Stay off of Facebook and Twitter as well, you can always update your status after work.
Swearing: Don’t use profanity in the office. Even if your co-workers are swearing, keep it professional. It won’t go unnoticed.
Absences: Missing work or showing up late constantly shows your employers that you are unreliable. If they can’t count on you to show up for an internship, how can they be sure you’d be on time for a client meeting or take your job seriously?
Disinterest: Ask about other aspects of the company. Yes, you have set responsibilities for the internship and you should take care of those. But if you only do those tasks, you are an average intern, not a SUPER INTERN. Ask to sit in on client calls, ask relevant questions, and find out as much as you can about the company.
Whether you’re earning money, receiving school credit or none of the above, you need to always give it your all. Don’t underestimate the value of any internship. You gain invaluable experience, great networking connections, and – if you do a good job – awesome job references. Those things will help you find a job after the internship, maybe even at the company you intern at!
Have any more SUPER INTERN tips? Let us know in the comments below!
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