Making the Most of Your Internship: Thriving Throughout Your Experience

You've navigated the first week and are settling into your internship. Now is the time to actively make the most of this opportunity. It's a chance to gain experience, network, work on projects, and get exposure to an industry.

Here’s how to thrive during your internship:

• Treat It Like a Real Job Be absolutely committed to your internship, even if it's unpaid or pays less than a full-time job. It's giving you a taste of a job you could potentially have. Maintain professionalism in every way. Show up on time and commit like it's a real job. Your work ethic is noticeable, and "word of mouth is a real thing". You want people to have good things to say about you.

• Understand and Meet Objectives Work with your supervisor to establish objectives. Every couple of weeks, ask your supervisor if you are meeting your objectives. If not, ask why and how you can meet them. It's important to know what skills you will gain. You should be able to discuss these objectives in future interviews. Throughout the week, check in on your progress and ensure your outcomes align with expectations.

• Be of Service and Show Initiative Don't sit idle. Even if you have nothing specific to do, ask someone how you can help. To stand out and increase your chances of a full-time position, try to exceed expectations. Figure out what's expected and then "do more". Go beyond what is expected and show initiative. This could involve extra research, taking a project further, or following up.

• Ask Quality Questions Strategically Continue to ask questions as you work. People know you are new and are there to support you. Asking questions, even all day, can lead to faster adaptation and a deeper understanding of your tasks. While asking questions is crucial, don't ask so many that people think you are incompetent. Try to research things yourself first. If you still need help after researching, explain what you've already looked into when you ask for help. This shows you are willing to do work on your own. Remember the "ROI" framework for quality questions: Relevance, Opportunity, and Insight.

• Make It an Enriching Experience Look for ways to make the experience enriching for yourself. Don't be afraid to tell your site supervisor you'd like to learn more about something or tailor your experience slightly. See what you can get from the opportunity. Have fun with it.

• Grow Your Network Keep meeting people outside your immediate team. Get an idea of what they do and how you might help them create value. Talking with as many people as you can, even higher-ups like the CIO or president, can be beneficial. Be ready with an "elevator speech" – a brief 10-30 second summary of yourself and a question you could ask someone important so they won't forget you.

• Stay Engaged with Company Content Continue to "be a sponge" and learn about the company. Soak up the information they provide, check out videos, articles, and blog posts to understand what they're working on. The more you learn, the more value you can give. This helps you understand your job better and vocalize your own expectations for the internship.

• Manage Stress and Practice Self-Care Internships can be stressful and overwhelming. Don't get discouraged. Be present during training and focus on what you're learning. Take good notes using a system that works for you. Take deep breaths when needed. Prioritize your self-care routine; it's the most important tip.

• Maintain Confidence Imposter syndrome or negative self-beliefs can creep in. Practice positive self-talk. Your energy is contagious, so surround yourself with supportive people and present yourself confidently.

• Understand What You Don't Like (It's Valuable!) An internship is like a trial period for your career. It's valuable to learn what you don't like just as much as what you do like. If you find you don't enjoy the experience, it's still useful for making connections and getting recommendation letters. Realizing a field isn't for you before taking a deep dive is a great thing. Knowing your "non-negotiables" is incredibly valuable.

By actively engaging, communicating, and learning throughout your internship, you're not only gaining valuable experience but also positioning yourself for future success.