Are you starting a new internship and want to know how to actually have it benefit you in some way? A lot of times, people just coast through internships without genuinely taking something away from them. We give you four simple ways to make sure your internship will be worth it.
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
One of the best ways to make the most out of your internship is to put yourself in situations where you might fail. What does that mean or look like? It means putting yourself in positions you’ve never been before, pushing and testing your limits to see what you can handle and what you’re good at. It’s important to remember that it’s an internship and that the pressure is off of you to succeed. Nobody expects you to go above and beyond or be an expert wherever you’re at. However, when you put yourself in uncomfortable situations, you can grow and if you stack those types of days consistently, you can see where you’re at in the end.
Ask questions & Be honest
One of the most efficient ways to learn is by asking questions– the more questions that you ask, the more knowledgeable you become about your desired internship. Be as curious as you can be and remember that you’re there to learn. Another vital note to mention is that honesty is always the best policy during an internship. If you don’t know how to do something, don’t say you do! Of course, sign up for it, but ask questions beforehand and do your best to try and figure it out. You’re there to learn and be uncomfortable, but you don’t want to simultaneously make a fool out of yourself.
Build Relationships
No matter if you’re introverted or extroverted, relationships will always be a part of life. It’s perfectly fine to be quiet and shy during your internship, but reaching out and building relationships will not only show your attentiveness to your company, but it’ll help you out in the long run with networking and creating friendships with other people. The saying– It’s not what you know, it’s who you know– couldn’t be more accurate. The job force nowadays is about networking and if you know the right people, then you’ll be in the right place.
Make it genuine
Make your time at your internship real. Don’t just be uncomfortable and ask questions to show face, be interested in whatever you’re pursuing, or don’t do it at all. There’s nothing worse than you and a company wasting time. Another thing, when you are networking and making those connections, don’t just seem interested in people for what they bring to the table. This can only last so long. Have the mentality that if you left the company today, those relationships would still be there and you don’t just use people for your benefit. What goes around comes around, so make sure whatever you’re giving out, you wouldn’t mind getting in return.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to ensure that your time at your internship is well spent. There will be times when things get hard or difficult to manage, but that’s the whole point. Use these four ways to do your best and make something out of it. Oh, and remember to have fun!
