Internships- Noun. Unpaid, usually seasonal jobs that are popular amongst high school/college students because they emphasize the need for building experience in one’s career of choice. May lead to future employment.
As a college student, it’s all you really focus on at some point. Internships can ultimately make or break a career for you, as it gives you the foot in the door that will allow you to see if the career you want is right for you.
It’s also a stressful process trying to secure one while juggling class, sports and other extracurricular activities. However, there’s no doubt that getting an internship is often times the key to getting that dream, if not almost-dream, job after graduation.
As an Elevate Inc. intern, I learned not only what it takes to succeed in a career in communications, but what it takes to succeed in any internship. It’s all very simple, actually.
Ask questions.
No matter how dumb it may seem to you, if you genuinely do not know the answer to a question, or how to go about solving certain problems, ask. There are so many people who have been in your shoes and are willing to help out. Get out of your comfort zone and realize that you don’t know all the answers- and that’s perfectly fine, as long as you do something about it.
Find a mentor within your coworkers.
Work relationships take time to form. Watch who you work well with, or who is the best at teaching you how to get things done and keep them in touch with you! They can be not only a great resource for help in your internship, but also career-wise. In fact, once your internship ends, keep them in mind and keep them updated. They will be a great source for advice, as well as potential recommendations.
Get as much experience out of it- even if it isn’t exactly what you signed up for.
Take advantage of what your internship may (or may not) offer. For example, as a Public Relations and Communications Assistant, I did not expect networking to be such a huge part of my internship. However, being involved at Elevate Inc.’s numerous client events helped me learn to polish my elevator pitch and get more comfortable with speaking to strangers.
Do the work- even if it’s hard.
Sometimes you will be given a task that seems impossible. Sometimes, you will fail at getting the job done right. Either way, commit to doing your best work as an intern. It is the only way you will really get the most experience and knowledge out of your internship. Plus, hard work and consistency will guarantee you a glowing recommendation if you ever need it.
Best of luck with finding an internship for the fall, and remember: the experience is what you make out of it!
