By: Ashley-Lynn Goldstein (George Washington University)
It’s that time of year; finals are concluding and you have most likely made a decision as to what you will be doing this summer (working a part time job, interning or perhaps both). If you are lucky enough to have landed an internship (especially a paid one) its time for you to start thinking about how you are going to get the most you can from it.
- Your outside needs to reflect your inside.
No one wants to hire someone who comes to work dressed in wrinkled pants and a jacket that does not match. You must dress the part. If you are interning somewhere where you will be seeing clients all day it is an absolute necessity to look both professional and put together. I am not saying you need to look like you came right off of a runway, you just need to look like you fit in. Simple is okay, just look clean. Do not wear anything too short (for the girls) or that does not match (for the guys). Remember to always brush you hair and girls, make sure to put on a little bit of makeup (less is more).
- Put in 110%
If you are hoping to one day get a job at the company (or even are just looking for a letter of recommendation) you need to earn it. Make sure you are always on time, get your work done efficiently and correctly (even if it is just brining your boss coffee) and that you are always the first one to raise your hand. If your department has multiple interns then you are competing with them and need to show your boss just how worthy you are of a job (if and when they are hiring).
- Make Connections
Uour fellow interns and the people you work for may be your greatest assets one day. It is important to maintain a good relationship with them while working and continue it (through Linkedin or email) in the future. The more contacts you have the more opportunities you have.
- Take Note of What You and Your Boss are Doing
Can you see yourself doing what your boss is doing one day? Although you may not love making photocopies and answering the phones, interning is about learning what you do and don’t want to do. Take note of what the people you are interning for are doing and decide if its what you want to do or not. Remember, knowing what you do not want to do is just as important as knowing what you do want to do.
