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The Do's and Don'ts of Preparing for an Internship
When you are about to take an internship, you will want to be aware of some do's and don'ts that will make your whole experience an enjoyable one. So here are some of the pointers you should keep in mind as you approach your internship.
Do Try To Have More Than One
Try to make the most out of your college years by having more than one internship program. Just think about how one internship can already help you. Wouldn't your resumé look even stronger if you had two?
However, make sure that you can do both of them well. Generally you will not be doing them at the same time, since you want to be able to give your all to each one. The best way to fit two internships into your college career is to start early. Don't wait until your junior year to look for one. Although many internship programs are geared toward college juniors, there are some that are open to freshmen and sophomores. In fact, if you can obtain one of these, it will be even easier for you to secure a regular internship your junior year.
Alternatively, you may want to look into briefer internships that are held during semester breaks or spring break. How better to show your maturity and dedication than to work on an important project while your classmates are partying in Fort Lauderdale?
Do Set Specific Goals
When you are applying for an internship, you should set specific goals for yourself and your internship. Ask yourself what you want to achieve when you have completed your internship. If you have a clear goal in mind, it will be easier to keep your mind focused on your internship when you are actually doing it, and not succumb to the temptation to goof off and prove yourself immature.
Don't Expect To Get Paid
Typically your internship will not pay you, and often you will end up paying money to do it, particularly if you have to live away from home. Although there are some paid internship programs, the vast majority of them provide only a small stipend intended to defray the costs of your lodgings or your travel expenses, particularly if it is located far from where you live.
Since paid internships do exist, you might start targeting for these kinds of programs, particularly if your economic situation is tight. However, if you can afford to do an unpaid internship, you should keep in mind that some of the best internship experiences could be acquired through programs that do not pay their interns.
Do Expect Professional Treatment
Welcome to the professional world. When you start your internship, you can say goodbye to the offhanded attitude toward employees that is often seen in minimum-wage jobs. Here, expect to be treated professionally -- which conversely will also mean the maintenance of professional distance. Your employer and co-workers will give you that professional treatment whether you want it or not. So be prepared for some cold shoulder moments, especially at the first few days of work.
Along with expecting professional treatment, you should act professionally at all times. There is no room for lame excuses of the sort that you may have given your instructors when you were not prepared for class or didn't complete an assignment on time You can't slack off and think that this is only an internship. You must treat it with the same diligence and professionalism you would give a full-time permanent posting.
Don't Wait For It To Come
An internship opportunity won't come knocking at your door. It is not given to you as a prize just for your being you. You will need to go out and look for an internship, just as you would look for a regular job. However, there are some tools that might help you find a good internship more easily. Start with your college placement office. You may also want to search the Internet for internship possibilities.
When you have identified possible internship programs, you will need to make formal applications to be considered for them. Under no circumstances consider the application process something trivial that you can slop together with minimal effort. You will want to give ample consideration to preparing your application materials to put your best foot forward. It may be the only way to get your foot in the door.
Do Use Your Network
If finding an internship seems to be a tedious chore for you, don't worry. Why not turn to your network of friends and family? They may have access to leads on available internship programs. Even if they don't personally know about internship programs, they may well know someone who can point you in the right direction.
These are just a few of the things you should and should not do when preparing for an internship program. Just remember that this period of your life is a very crucial one that can have a ripple effect throughout your future career. Make sure to do your best even if you're still in your preparation stage!
