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Making The Most Out Of Your Internship
A lot of people find it very difficult to get into internship programs. If you are able to get one, you should make the most out of your experience. How you perform in your internship can have a ripple effect on your future career in surprising ways.
Be Thankful
You should be grateful that you were chosen to have the opportunity to be in that position you hold. A lot of students applying for internship positions are turned down by their first choice. Some don't even get to have an internship at all and will have to make do with whatever employment experience they can get without a degree. So make sure that your enthusiasm for your job shines through in your actions and attitude. Your supervisors are also watching your attitude towards your work; so make sure they see you as a positive person.
Do your best during your internship and avoid doing anything damaging to your reputation or job prospects. How you perform may well follow you for the rest of your working life. You want to have a credit on your resumé when you complete your internship, not a blot that you will have to live down.
Get A Jump Start
Make sure you start your internship on the right foot -- you only get one chance to make a first impression, so make the most of it. Before your first day, get a good sense of the workplace culture, particularly the dress code. You should make sure that your outfit will meet or slightly exceed expectations. However, you do not want to overdo it, lest you create the impression that you are giving yourself airs above your station. No one likes a stuffed shirt or a showoff.
The harsh truth is that most people make important value judgments about others on their appearance and attire. So make sure you look your best, especially on the first day.
Time Is Essential
As with any workplace, you should be punctual. Every day, you should show up on time. Make good timekeeping a consistent habit, not just something for the first few days that can be slacked up later. Try to be at least five to ten minutes earlier than your call time everyday so that you are in place and ready to work.
If circumstances beyond your control force you to be late, you should let your supervisor or manager know in advance. If possible, stay beyond your actual quitting time, particularly if you are close to finishing a task. Nobody likes the clockwatcher who downs tools the second the minute hand touches the twelve or the digital display updates to the hour. Try not to leave the office until your boss gives you your assignments or agendas for the next day. Not only can you be prepared for the next day's work so that you do not need to stand idle until you are directed to your next task, but you also establish yourself as an enthusiastic and proactive worker.
Cooperate And Participate
If you should be invited to attend seminars or meetings, do what it takes to be available for them, even if it means giving up after-work or weekend activities. These meetings can be very useful in understanding the way your company operates and how people within it communicate. You can gain a grasp of the connections between different departments, especially if you're working for a large company company.
Attending such events can also inform you of opportunities that will soon be opening for people in your line of work. They also give you an opportunity to work on your interpersonal skills, and to show your dedication to your work and to the company.
During these events, you may get the chance to ask questions regarding how decisions are being made in the company. If given the chance, you can even offer your ideas and suggestions for making things work better. You never know when senior staff may be observing you, looking for promising young people who will go far.
By taking your internship seriously and putting your best efforts into it, you can make it into a steppingstone to a career, either with that company or with another company.
