From the article: How Can I Guarantee that My Internship Is a Success?
What specific strategies are you using to guarantee that your summer internship is successful? Share Your Story
Do not sell yourself short
- Woody Allen once said that 90% of life is 'just showing up.' A successful intern must not only show up to work, but also dinners, meetings, etc. Get out there, put a smile on your face, and ask questions with no hesitation. Only by asking questions can one really understand, and therefore no question is ignorant. An intern should learn, question, and always think. Don’t forget that to build relationships that will bear fruits in the future. Also, remember that you are working for minimal or no compensation. Thus, you are allowed to ask things of people in your workplace. For example, “can I sit in on your meeting this afternoon?” or “I’m curious about __blank__. Will you explain it to me over lunch?” And lastly, internships are great practice for the real world. Use this time to build your-self discipline, improve your time management and social skills, but never forget to also focus on your lifestyle and happiness, always asking yourself “is this the life that I want to live?”
- —Guest klong
What Makes an Internship a Success
- Although an internship may not be the most glamorous of jobs at times, the key to success at my internship this summer is taking initiative. Even though I find myself shredding or doing mindless work sometimes, I seize the opportunity to meet people and network. We had a presentation last week from one of the heads of the organization and I found the presentation so interesting that I emailed him after to ask him some follow up questions, and he wanted to speak on the phone instead. After a great conversation on the phone, he told me that I can call back any time with questions. The great part about my internship is that they arrange meetings for me to speak with people from other departments, so I am more aware of what is going on in the organization. The key is to seize opportunities and not just sit back at a computer and wait for someone to come tell you how great of a job you are doing.
- —Guest Intern
