Success on the Internship

No Second Chance at a First Impression

Are you about to start your summer internship or job? Whether you are working at a Fortune 500 company or a neighborhood pool, it is important to make a good first impression with your supervisor, co-workers, and peers. Here are tips on how to start on the right foot.

Prior to your first day, research the company/division to learn as much as possible. Has the company been in the news? What are the latest press releases from the employer? Consider contacting your manager to inquire if there is anything he/she would recommend you do prior to your first day.
Be sure to arrive early for work and don’t be the first one to leave at the end of the day. If you have to commute to work, do a test-run before your first day to know where you are going and how long your trip will take with rush hour traffic. Be sure to dress for success – err on the side of conservative, especially at the start.
Be ready to listen more than talk during your first few weeks – show respect to everyone and learn names as quickly as possible, no matter their role.
As you meet people during the first week of your summer experience, take notes on what each person does within the company. You may want to have lunch or coffee with these individuals later on in the summer in order to learn about other parts of the organization. Also, knowing people and interns in other areas of the company may help you complete a project later on during the summer.
Maintain a professional attitude in all situations, even activities outside of work with fellow co-workers.

Communication and Organization Skills

Within the first couple of weeks on the job, schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss expectations and possible projects. It is paramount that you and your supervisor are on the same page with what your work and timeline should be.

Discuss assigned projects and objectives, agree to a timeline for completion, inquire about resources – but do not expect to be given step-by-step instructions, inquire about how your performance will be evaluated, set up periodic ‘check-in’ meetings, etc. It is important to know the ‘Why’ and not just the ‘What’ with regards to your project/s.
Create a timeline to map out your summer responsibilities and steps you need to accomplish for successful completion of projects. Do not procrastinate as additional projects could be assigned later in the summer
Many summer jobs may not have ‘projects’ – you will need to be flexible and volunteer to help out where you can. Take the initiative and ask to help out instead – be sure to check with your supervisor before committing to others.
Create a list of resources, including people, in order to know where to turn for help. If one is not assigned, consider asking someone in the organization to serve as your mentor for the summer – meet with that person on a weekly/bi-monthly basis.
Give your supervisor periodic (not daily) updates on your progress. If things are going well, your supervisor should know about it – if you are struggling, best to communicate this now in order to fix the situation before it is too late. Everyone struggles from time to time – asking for help is a sign of strength in the work place. Making a mistake is fine; admit to it, correct it, but don’t repeat it!

You and Your Co-Workers

Have you noticed that some people seem more welcoming than others at your summer internship/job? Are there some co-workers you know well whereas others who you are not even sure of their names – or who don’t know yours’? No one wants to be known for the wrong reasons, but it is just as harmful NOT to be known for ANY reasons! It may be time to reach out.

If you sense that another employee has a negative attitude toward you, invite that person to grab a cup of coffee, ask him/her about themselves in order to find common interests. This short bonding time can help turn around someone’s impression of you.
When you make a mistake, apologize. Admitting you were wrong shows maturity and often builds trust with others. If you have done something that may have caused tension – although you may not have meant for your actions or words to offend – it is best to talk with the individual/s who you may have offended.
Reach out to individuals in other departments – having lunch, grabbing a coffee, stopping by after work – in order to learn about other areas of the organization. Time to break out the list of people to whom you were introduced during the first week/s on the job and network.
If your employer organizes social events, lunch and learns, service opportunities – take advantage of them to get to know others inside and outside of your circle. Social skills are just as important as technical skills for success on the job.
Do you work with just a few other folks? Consider reaching out to other professionals in your city for networking lunches. For example, if you work at a small advertising firm, ask a client to lunch to find out about his/her operations. Working at the local pool, reach out to local businesses to ask for informational interviews. Most professionals are very willing to help students explore career fields.

Mid-Terms

You thought you could avoid mid-terms during your summer? These mid-terms can be tougher as you cannot cram for them by pulling a couple of all-nighters. Some organizations have a formal mid-summer evaluation process; for others, you will need to initiate a mid-summer review.

If no formal process exists, set up a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your progress. Be sure to bring updates on your work and/or projects, what you have learned, what you still hope to achieve, etc. Ask for constructive feedback and be ready to take some tough advice. Don’t get defensive, stay positive and brainstorm with your supervisor about ways you can improve.
By taking the time to meet with your supervisor, you afford yourself the opportunity to take on more meaningful work over the summer. Inquire about being included on projects, sitting in on meetings (budgets, planning, sales, marketing, etc), initiating ideas you have developed, etc. If you are not being challenged at your summer job (don’t tell your boss this), be proactive and try to improve your situation by discussing ways you can contribute even more.
By this time in the summer, you may have learned this is not the type of work/company you want for a career. Still, it is important to continue to work hard as this job will go on your resume and you may need a recommendation from your boss for future opportunities. Even negative experiences can teach a person much about attitude, work styles, environment, etc. – no matter your surroundings, stay positive and continue to excel in your work.
For those receiving academic credit for their summer experience, take the time to take the time follow up on any remaining paperwork or requirements
Continue to reach out to other departments and professionals for networking/informational interviews. These meetings will help give your fall job/internship search a head start.

Is it Really Over?

Some of you may wonder where the time goes over summer, some might be glad that you are going back to college…but it’s important to finish on a high note.

If your employer does not have a formal “exit” interview/review process, schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your summer performance. Be ready to discuss what you accomplished, lessons learned, and ask for feedback.
Thank co-workers, peers, and mentors for their time, advice, and help given to you over the summer. Be sure to obtain contact information and write them an email from time to time – these relationships can be very important in helping you land a job or future internship, even if the job is not with this company.
You may receive an offer to join the organization full-time after graduation – if you know the job and company are right for you, go for it. If you are not 100% sure, get all the details, especially the company’s deadline for your response, and come back to campus ready to explore alternative jobs and employers.
Take some time to evaluate your experience. Are you happy with your work? Did you show your strengths? What would you do differently if you could? What were some highlights and where are areas you could improve? Take time to evaluate while memories are still fresh – learn from this summer experience to in order to be better prepared for future opportunities.