How to make the most out of your Internship

By Allison Eckel

Internships. Whether you have one currently, completed one in the past, or are frantically looking for one for the upcoming semester, they can be daunting at first. However, the experience gained is invaluable and the skills learned are crucial to being successful in your desired field. Below are four tips to follow to make the most out of an internship.

1. Take notes on everything

Taking notes is the best way to learn and remember what you learned. Write down the tools you’re learning, the pitches you’re drafting and the conversations you’re having. Not only will this help you remember everything you’ve accomplished and can add to your portfolio but it will help you learn more about your industry and can raise questions you might have.

2. Speak up in meetings

Most times, your supervisor will invite you to meetings where the team regroups to discuss all the work that is being done for the client or company you are working for. Although it might be intimidating to speak up and share your thoughts when in a room full of full-time professionals, speaking up will only help you better your skills and teach you how to bring up ideas. Supervisors bring you to meetings to not only learn what occurs in them, but they want to hear you speak and share your ideas. You never know when something as simple as a suggestion can turn into something big.

3. Ask questions

No question is a stupid question-especially during an internship. The goal is to learn as much as possible during your time with a company to ask any question that might arise. Supervisors want to help you and want to see you succeed. The only way to improve is to ask questions to understand why something was done the way it was.

4. Be yourself and trust your work

Congratulations! You’ve successfully landed an internship but are nervous to show your work to your supervisor. DON’T BE. The company selected you as an intern for a reason. If they did not have faith in you to be successful, they wouldn’t have hired you in the first place. Internships are learning experiences, and it’s the time where you learn skills and it’s ok to mess up. Everyone has to start somewhere so take a deep breath and know you are doing a great job.