It was my first day on the job at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, setting up for the first home game of the season. I was 18 years old, the youngest intern for
the Golden State Warriors Community Relations Internship. I made sure to arrive early in order to make
a good impression. If there’s anything
important about the business world that stuck with me, it is the rule that
arriving on time is actually considered late, while arriving early is actually
on time! After getting off BART, I placed
my media pass around my neck and walked through the back entrance with
confidence. My polo shirt looked fresh
and I was looking presentable for any situation. As a curious individual, I quickly had the
urge to explore the entire arena and figure out how to get around. Luckily, I had time to spare and I even made
a few friends with some of the employees and guards. When my supervisor walked up to our event
table, she was glad to see I was ready to go with no hassles or late
excuses. Another important key to a
successful internship is making a good first impression. The first impression
is the one that usually lasts the longest and sticks in people’s minds.
With any big internship, the new people often must start
from the bottom and work their way up. My
first set of tasks seemed remedial and included carrying boxes, making runs,
and watching the merchandise we were auctioning. After proving myself during
the first couple weeks, I was easily completing all the tasks they had given me
with ease. My hard work paid off when my
supervisor asked me to start doing outreach. This is the time where my true
talent was able to shine. It was my job
to get fans interested in our auction table and getting them to bid on items.
With signed jerseys, team balls, and historical memorabilia, it was an easy
sell. My enthusiasm and consistency with bringing new fans to the table really
showed my supervisor and the other interns that I was serious and eager for
success. The third key step for a great
internship experience is to go above and beyond what is asked of you so that it
doesn’t start to feel like clockwork. With an unwavering work ethic, it is
almost as if you can shape your internship into the unique experience that you
desire it to be. A successful work history gives you leverage to ask for new
challenges or to get creative with your internship by breaking outside the mold.
Even though I was the youngest intern, my confidence,
timeliness, and hard work set me apart from the rest of the interns. Just following these simple steps allowed me
to create a good rapport with many advisors and managers – the individuals that
had the potential to hire me in the future, or to connect me further with the
Golden State Warriors or with the sports world in general. My last, but probably most important step
into getting the most out of your internship is networking. All of your hard work won’t mean anything
unless you leverage it and use the experience to create strong
connections. Be assertive; introduce
yourself with your first and last name, your school, and which department you
are interning for. Employers and supervisors like to see these kinds of professional
gestures, which will help to open new doors and future opportunities. When you meet influential figures within the
company, ask for a business card and make sure to follow up with an email.
Here is a review of the key steps to getting the most out of
your internship:
1. Timeliness/ Make a good first
impression
2. Explore opportunities and meet new people outside of your department
3. Go above and beyond what is asked and get creative
4.
Be assertive and network/Make important connections
by Peer:
Charlie Fyffe: 2nd Year, Undeclared
tudies
