You’ve searched, applied and snagged the internship! But how can you maximize your experience? Even if you’re working for free, your internship can be worth a fortune – in job experience and valuable career connections. But it’s up to you to see that your efforts pay off. Make the following right moves to make the most of your internship!
Orientation If your organization offers a formal orientation: Observe the culture of the company. How do people dress? Are they formal or informal when they approach each other? How do people communicate? What are their work habits? Does your supervisor work through lunch, and then stay late? Expect to be introduced to the top officials, meet other interns and team members you will be working closely with Learn about the history and mission of the organization Discover organizational policies on topics such as absenteeism, use of property, sexual harassment, safety practices, dress codes, etc. If your organization does not offer a formal orientation: Read about the history and mission of the organization Ask to attend meetings with departments and to have a tour Arrange to meet key people in the organization
Communication
Listen more than talk. On your first day, try to sit down with your supervisor to clarify mutual goals and expectations. Set up periodic evaluative meetings with your supervisor to address questions about projects or assignments. Use these meetings as a forum for feedback and progress. Seek regular reviews from your supervisor to assess your performance and reinforce the fact that you mean business. Remember to also be a good listener and learn as much as you can during these meetings. Discuss any questions or difficulties you may have with your faculty supervisor. If desired, signal interest in a full-time position. Let your supervisor know that you have enjoyed your role and responsibilities and hope for future full-time employment in a similar capacity.
Social
Show support for the organization and colleagues by attending social functions. If there are other interns in the office, develop relationships with them to serve as a support system. Invite your supervisor, fellow interns and staff members to join you for lunch or coffee periodically. Be curious about the people you work with, and ask questions about their specialty areas, interests, motivations for entering the field, and how they started out. You might find a mentor willing to share experiences, perspectives, and offer career advice. Show an interest in and commitment to attending organized sessions for interns.
Professionalism
Show respect for all people. Come prepared for work. Come dressed in appropriate workplace attire. Treat your co-workers as you would want to be treated. Help out willingly when asked. Be consistently punctual and meet set deadlines. Avoid missing work.
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices
Do remember that you are representing Stephen F. Austin State University. Your contribution to the company and their positive interaction with you as an intern will help future SFA students. Avoid complaining, being rude, leaving early, being closed-minded, appearing arrogant, acting unprofessionally, appearing inflexible, and taking part in office politics.
Knowledge/Competency
Learn as much as you can about the organization prior to beginning your internship. Establish credibility by performing your job competently. Ask good questions; avoid asking questions about skills that you are expected to know. Ask questions and generally cultivate your curiosity by seeking to learn as much as possible about the role of your department in the organization as a whole, and how your company figures into the industry at large. Keep up with industry news to build knowledge about the field and make sense of the environment within which you are working. Seek advice and raise questions whenever you encounter something that is not familiar to you. Be open-minded about new ideas and procedures – remember that you don't know everything and that your professors didn't teach you everything.
Responsibility/Initiative
Introduce new ideas gradually and avoid trying to change too much too soon. Gradually ask for more responsibility and actively look for things to do. Be enthusiastic and do your best on every task you are assigned. Demonstrating a cheerful and energetic attitude toward all of your work will prove impressive to your supervisors and potentially lead to more challenging tasks. Ask your supervisor if you might sit in on a few inter-departmental meetings, and seek out other opportunities to observe various members of your organization in action. There may be times when your supervisor does not have anything pressing for you to do. In such cases, offer to expand on a small project you have already been assigned, suggest another project that you think might benefit the organization or tactfully check with other co-workers around your department to see if you can lend a hand.
Recordkeeping
Take detailed notes in staff meetings, meetings with your supervisor and when working on new projects. These notes will prove helpful as your responsibilities grow, and when seeking future employment. Keep organized records of your work by creating a journal of your internship activities including tasks (think action verbs!), strengths and weaknesses, difficulties and evaluations. This will help in future employment opportunities. Leave your internship with tangible results - both for your resume and portfolio. Maybe you developed a brochure, computerized an inventory system, organized a sales conference, met with clients, tracked industry trends, etc.
Network
It is important to establish contacts with people who are doing what you think you would like to do. These people are valuable resources and may be able to help you in future career opportunities or lead you to other contacts. Start a network list with names, titles and contact information. You will want to refer to this information in the future, whether using the contact as reference or for networking purposes. Use your experience to get a job. If you’d like to work at the company following graduation, make sure you stay in touch with your contacts. You may want to ask them to write a letter of recommendation for you before you leave while your professional contributions are still fresh in their minds. Send them emails with updates on relevant courses or your future plans. Even if you decide on a different career direction, you will still have an excellent source of references.
Last but not least, have fun! Enjoy learning, sharpening your skills and developing professionally and personally. Participate in work-related social functions and become an active member in your work community. Just make sure you don’t overdo it!
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/careerservices