I am fortunate in that I have had the opportunity to experience five different internships. In each one of them I learned something more about the business I hope to one day work in. Some were very successful but all of them were a great a learning experience. My favorite internship at a television show started out as the most difficult. The first day I worked felt like I could do nothing right. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. When I got home that night I felt like quitting. Then I decided that I was going to return to my internship and work as hard as I could. I was going to prove to my employers that I was the best woman for the job. So days turned into weeks and I started to feel more and more comfortable. I was not only improving but I had earned the trust of my co-workers. I did this by taking on every task that was given to me and doing the best job I could. It didn't matter if I was organizing chairs or locating an actor. I was excited to do it! Once they saw my dedication they began giving me more responsibility. When I wasn't given tasks I would ask crew members how they chose their profession. I learned the names of the 90 crew members that worked on set and could tell you a fact about them. By the end of the internship I felt like I was part of the family.
The experience at the television show set me up for greater opportunities at other internships. Here are a few tips that helped me succeed at my internships and I hope they will do the same for you!
1. Choosing an Internship
Have a reason for pursuing your internship, whether it is general interest or career oriented. This is very important because you don't want to do an internship just for the sake of having one. Also be careful when doing internships that are not paid and not for credit. They might seem cool at first but make sure it is worth all the work that you are going to put in. Apply to all internships that seem interesting to you but make sure you have a ranking of which ones are most important. If your number four calls you back and offers you a position you may have to decline or ask for an extension to answer because you are waiting to hear from your number one or two choice.2. Be Excited!
Now that you have the internship jump in head first! Do your best to learn the names of all your co-workers and your boss. Know who you report to so you can go to them if you have questions or problems. If you aren't assigned to a specific task ask if there is something you can do! Often when you are eager to complete the task you are given they will give you more challenging work. Everyday that you are at your internship is an interview for a job at that company.3. Ask Questions
If you aren't sure how to do something ask! An internship is a learning experience. Your employer doesn't expect you to know everything, that is why you are an intern. Take as many chances as you can to ask questions and be an invested member of the team. Also, I highly recommend setting up an informational interview with someone that works at the company. Choose someone that is where you want to be in five to ten years and ask them how they got to where they are. Make sure to write that person a thank you note and keep in contact with him/her for when you might need advice in the future. They might even become your mentor! I still talk to my supervisor from my internship two years ago; she was very helpful when I needed an employer to write me a recommendation letter and without hesitation she said yes!4. Get to Know Your Fellow Interns
If you are the only intern then get to know the people you work closest to. However if you are at a place that has twenty interns do your best to get to know all of them; they are not your competition they are your peers. Whether you have a lunch date with them or are working on a project it helps to have someone around that is in the same position as you. One day they might be at a company and are asked to recommend someone for a job opening and they will be able to vouch for you because you worked well together in the past. Some of my best friends have been people that I have interned with!5. Be Yourself
You were chosen for your internship for a reason. Be yourself but always be mindful of what you share at work. Remember no matter how "cool" the office is that it is a work environment. When someone asks about your weekend you don't have to go into detail about all the parties you went to and how your friend got super drunk. Keep it professional to show that you are mature and can handle a job. Be yourself but don't be afraid to take risks; taking on challenging tasks will make you stronger and give you experience. Work hard, stay focused and ask questions.