Our Executive Leadership Team frequently tells us that “your experience is what you make of it.” Whether there is something you want to know more about or someone you want to get connected with, it is up to you to ask for it. Your internship experience is in your hands, so take control of it. Here’s how:
Creating Goals
Creating goals allows you to hold yourself accountable. It also gives you a metric to measure your productivity and accomplishments. Having short-term goals can also give you small successes and encouragement. Creating goals at the beginning of your internship and doing a mid-internship check to re-evaluate yourself is crucial. Reflect on the goals you made at the beginning of the summer, and compare it to what you have accomplished so far. If you’ve still got boxes unchecked, don’t worry, there is still time left to accomplish them!
Showing Up and Being Present
Whether you’re interning remotely or in the office, always be ready to give 100% and devote the time and effort necessary to complete the goals that you set at the beginning of the internship.
Being Excited
Having a positive attitude can go a long way in setting the tone for the day as well as brightening someone else’s! Having positivity can also make you feel more confident in yourself and your abilities, less stressed and optimistic about the future.
Getting to Know People
Your peers are an extremely important part of your work life. As an intern, this is also an opportunity to gain insight into other departments, find your interests, or just expand your network. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions of others.
Finding a Mentor
If your company has a “buddy/mentorship program” take advantage of it! Whether you know what you want to be doing post-graduation or not, having someone to go to as a resource can make a difference in your career. A mentor can help you get started on a path you are interested in, connect you with their network of people, and encourage you during your journey. They can also give you feedback to help you keep learning and growing personally and professionally. Seek out someone in a leadership position or unit that you want to learn more about.
Are you looking to advance your career? View our job board for open opportunities here.
