Internships and how can you make them count
Internships and how can you make them count
The period where a person works in an organization to gain work experience in the field of their interest. The period can range from a short week to a year. It helps a person gain an understanding of the professional field, understand their capabilities, and explore career options.
An internship plays a vital role in the life of a college student or a graduate. It gives an exposure of what is to come in terms of work opportunities and skills needed to survive at any company. It also helps you to understand your potential as well.
So, when an internship opportunity comes your way, how can you get the most from it. What are the points you should keep in mind to gain the most out of your internship period? We have collated seven points following which you will be able to get the most out of an internship. Let’s find out.
- Do your research about the company, role, and department.
When about to start an internship, getting to know the company becomes very important. Sources can be company websites, social media pages, other helpful websites such as Glassdoor, etc. It gives you an idea of what type of work you would be expected to do, its work environment, and what you expect out of your internship from the place. It will also help impress your managers with the level of awareness you have about the company and what you want to get out of the internship. If you also have a goal in mind regarding your interview, you will be able to work with your manager to achieve the same during your period there.
- Build Trust and add value
As an intern, you are new to the organization’s environment and work culture. So, the first task at hand is to work hard to become a reliable member of your team and organization. Try to add value to the tasks given to you. Sometimes some trivial skill can help make you indispensable for your team. So, keep such talents in your bag, shown at the perfect time. No matter how small a task, give your full dedication and effort to deliver the best quality work. It impresses your teammates and manager that you are serious about your career, and they will welcome you to be part of bigger and better projects.
- Networking, Make important connections.
When you join any organization, your day would start with a meeting and getting to know new people. At every step of the way, you will meet a new member of the company, your HR, your supervisor, your teammates, your mentor, and many others part of the same organization. Networking is an important aspect of an internship. You make connections with a lot of people during the period. It helps you in getting new opportunities and helps in times of challenges. When you are interning at any organization, you might always not be working on something. You can utilize this time to take part in some co-curricular activities and help in organizing company events. These are excellent opportunities to meet and connect with new people from different teams, departments.
You never know when some of these connections might come in handy, so try to socialize whenever you get an opportunity. Also, in terms of connections, some managers and teammates are so helpful that they might become more than your colleagues. They become your friends, your guide, your mentors in your professional journey. Among the people we get to know, some leave a lasting expression in your life. They share their experiences, their life journey and inspire us and encourage us to follow our interests. Once you complete your internship, it might not be possible to connect with them regularly. But you should try to stay in touch with the people who have mentored you and helped you build your career because networking works both ways. As much you gain from your contacts, you might get the opportunity to give back as well. So, keep in touch either through LinkedIn or other social websites, whichever suits you.
How to Explain Reason for Job Change
- Maintain records of your achievements, keep your internship journey well documented
For most people, an internship is the first entry into a work environment. Recording all the tasks that you have done during your internship period will help you prepare your report at the end of the period. It will also help you record your tasks with their importance, targets, contribution, challenges, if any, your goals, learnings, etc. This level of documentation helps in identifying what you like or don’t like doing. It will help you decide your long-term career, what you want to keep doing, or your dream role or role that piques your interest. If you have your accomplishments carefully documented, it improves your resume and chances of getting the job you are looking for. Most importantly, it will push you to learn the skills and expertise needed to land your dream job. Also, one learns skills required for the job and skills required in life, such as how to interact with people in a proper work environment. It helps to grow personally and professionally.
- Be proactive; always ask questions.
Being an intern usually means getting to do supportive tasks for your team. But once you understand the basics of how your team and your project assigned is working, you can take the initiative. You can do your research and try to identify something that interests you. Then you can inform your supervisor and your team about the same. They will be pleased and will help you as well to learn what you need to execute your idea. This will show that you are proactive, ready to take the initiative, and are ready to give 100% in your job. This proactiveness also comes with asking questions. To understand the basics well enough to undertake something new, you need to ask questions to your team, your supervisor. Get all your doubts clear, however small it may be. The clearer your understanding is, the better you will perform.
What is a notice period?
- Feedback is very important.
Feedback is a very important part of work-life. It gives to an idea of how you are performing. So, in internships also you must have regular feedback meetings with your direct supervisor. They will help you ease into the corporate world and provide you with feedback and reflections on how you are doing, how your performance has been, how well you have gelled with the company and the team members. They will tell you what is going well for you and what you need to improve. You can take feedback points from peers as well; it will help you gain confidence. Also, you can provide your feedback and what went well for you at the company.
You should have your reflections and what you did well, and what you want to improve. And your expectations with respect to the work. Feedback serves as an important arrow in your quiver of achievements when you are either looking for a permanent position at the same organization or anywhere else.
- Say yes to tasks given, but don’t overload yourself.
When you start as an intern at any organization, you are the least experienced person on the floor. So, you might be given very small and not very important tasks to work on. You will mostly be supporting your team through small activities here and there. Even if it’s small and you will not learn much from it, you should be ready to say yes. Whether a task is big or small, it allows you to learn more about the company and its business. It’s about growing out of your comfort zone and be up for anything that comes your way. But there is a catch. Saying ‘yes’ to everything might become a problem sometimes when you get overwhelmed with many activities because you are trying to do a lot. You need to know your limits, and when there is a time to say ‘no.’ Do not overload your calendar with tasks; try to relax and take out time for yourself as well. Being overloaded might affect the quality of work you are doing. Working on something at every minute of the day leaves your body and your brain exhausted. If you want to be energetic and give your best quality work, you should decide which tasks to say ‘yes’ and which to say ‘no.’ This is also essential learning of an internship and your career going ahead.
I hope the above points gave you a good idea of how you can get the most out of your internship. Most of the points apply not only to an internship but to your career as well going forward. Good luck with your internships and careers.
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