Written By Grace Deasy, Account Executive, Alloy Kitchen
Internships are a key building block for professional and personal development throughout college. In addition to classes and on-campus involvement, internships provide the necessary real-world experience needed to succeed after graduation. Internship opportunities can be difficult to obtain, so it is important to actively maximize your time throughout your experience. I have provided a few pointers on how to benefit greatly during an internship.
Networking
As they say, “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” Networking is such a large part of gaining opportunities and progressing in your career which does not stop when you have an internship. It could be possible that one day a golden opportunity is offered to you from someone in your network. During your internship, make it a goal to connect with at least one person each day. Whether you discuss work-related topics or connect with them on a personal level, it will be beneficial in the long run.
Ask questions
I know when I first started an internship, I thought that I was going to be taught everything I needed to know. In reality, a lot of times in an internship, you will be given responsibilities with minimal instruction and will be expected to roll with it. Therefore, it is important to ask questions. I know it can be daunting and you may not want to appear as though you lack knowledge, but usually people are more than willing to help, as they realize you are an intern who needs guidance.
Venture out of your comfort zone
When you accept an internship position, you will be given a specific title that usually dictates your role in the company. However, most of the time there will be opportunities that allow you to expand beyond what you are given. For example, if you are assigned a social media intern role, you may be able to contribute to other roles in sales, design, tech, etc. If you develop an interest in another area, do not be afraid to ask for more responsibility in that role. Your skills will continue to build and you may end up discovering something new about yourself!
Take notes and track experience
It may sound unnatural to take notes at your internship, but trust me when I say it truly helps. Let’s say you were unsure of how to complete a certain task and did your own research or asked a colleague. You should then be making sure to write down the resources and advice that you find. You never know if these tools could potentially help you down the road. In terms of your resume, it is extremely helpful to have a written record of your experience to recall after the fact.
Internships can be intimidating, but it is extremely important to get as much out of the experience as you possibly can. Do not be afraid of failure, expand your horizons, and continue to grow as a professional. You got this!
Happy Valley Comm 