Well some of you are probably thinking that once you have landed the perfect internship, that the hard part is over. Although this may be partly true, you want to shine during your entire internship experience and maintain a positive, professional momentum. When I held my internship at Kaiser Permanente my summer entering Cal, I tried my best to go above and beyond what might have been expected of me. Whenever I was asked to do a task or project, I made sure that I fully understood the task and completed it within a fair amount of time. I also took opportunities to share my ideas and input when I thought my perspective could be valuable or needed. Let’s face it - many employers and professionals may identify us as the “You Tube generation”, and we have unique skills, perspectives, and insights to offer companies!
Here are some tips to help you excel and standout in your internship:
1) Dress for success! If the company you are interning for has a casual dress code, kick it up a notch to standout and to reinforce how serious you are about the position.
2) Avoid Slacking! You want to show that you are just as capable of completing projects and tasks as the regular employees (i.e. opening up the door for a potential job offer in the future!)
3) Be on time! Enough said about that. Nothing is worse that a late and undedicated intern.
4) Ask for extra projects and opportunities to get involved! The best internships are those that allow you to job shadow other professionals, get deeply engaged in the activities of the company, and get a true sense of what employment is like in a given profession. Don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities to get involved with projects and experiences that will enhance your internship experience and professional development!
If you follow these suggestions, along with incorporating your own ideas of what a “perfect intern” looks like, I assure you not to worry; even if it feels like your hard work may go unnoticed, it could very likely pay off in the future when you may be extended a permanent job opportunity! Happy Interning!
For additional assistance, check out http://internships.berkeley.edu
by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American S
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