During your internship in DC, you will develop your skills, build up your resume with an amazing experience, and have a great opportunity to network with people working in your field. Most importantly, you’re getting your foot in the door at an organization you are really interested in and increasing your chances of landing a full-time job after you finish college. So, here are the 10 Tips to Stand Out as an Intern:
- Set Goals
Your boss will have expectations around what they expect you to achieve during your internship. It’s important that you meet with your supervisor to establish what their expectations are, so you can meet them and work towards exceeding them.
Your supervisor’s expectations shouldn’t be the endpoint of what you do during your internship. It should be a mark of the minimum you achieve over the course of your time with the company. Ultimately, your goals should exceed what your manager expects. Be sure to go the extra mile and it will pay off.
- Find A Mentor
One of the key things to being really successful at your internship will be finding a mentor who will support you, show you the ropes and, most importantly, that you will be able to learn from and ask for advice. Having a good mentor will make your transition from student to employee much easier and a lot less stressful.
- Be A Team Player
You will probably have a number of collaborative relationships with your co-workers, so it’s important that you can show you work well with others. Your employer will want to see that you are willing to work for the better of the group and the company, not just for yourself.
10 Tips to Stand Out as an Intern
- Ask Questions
If you want to turn your internship into a job, you have to ask questions. Asking questions will show that you are genuinely interested in the job, are willing to learn and want to be better a what you do.
- Be Assertive/Proactive
One of your internship goals should be to learn as much as possible. You can do this by working hard on the projects you are assigned to and also by volunteering for other assignments. It’s important that you don’t spread yourself too thin, but don’t think that you have to stick to one certain area during your time with the company.
If you have free time, offer your services to someone who needs help or ask your supervisor if they have another job for you. This will speak volumes about your work ethic and show that you are willing to do more than what was on the job description. More importantly, it will show your boss how much you want to work there, which will work in your favor if a full-time position becomes available.
- Network! Network! Network!
Make sure you capitalize on your time with your company and take the opportunity to meet as many of your co-workers as possible – especially those in other departments. If you are working in a big company, you may only have the chance to work closely with certain people in one specific area. This is why it important for you to make a conscious effort to build quality relationships and make connections with people throughout the whole company. You never who you may meet that could possibly support you in the future or who you could even someday work with.
- Show Your Commitment
Do whatever it takes to get your work done and to get it done well! Show up for work on-time and, if necessary, stay on later in the evening. Being on time will show your boss how committed you are to doing a really good job.
It can be hard for employers to find committed employees, so interns who go the extra mile will stand out. Your internship will give your employer time to train you and track your progress, so take this time to prove to them that you are someone they need in their company even after your internship is over.
- Look For Feedback
It’s important that you look for feedback throughout your internship. Not only will this feedback allow you to improve and perform better, it will also show your boss that you are willing to work hard to prove yourself and do a good job.
Washington Intern Student Housing, 10 Tips to Stand Out as an Intern
- Ask About Any Job Opportunities
Be direct and ask about any potential permanent job opportunities. How is your boss supposed to know that you want more than an internship?
You can also go a step further and make your boss aware of a position (that you could fill) that may not even exist yet. Maybe your employer has some needs that aren’t currently being met? You could propose a job that you could do to make sure they are.
- Keep In Touch
Keep in touch and network with your colleagues after you have left. You could start by sending thank you notes. You can also send them casual emails asking about the company or even looking for more feedback or advice.
It’s also important that you make an effort to get to know and keep in touch with the human resources department and recruiters. They could be the ones who put you forward for a position when it becomes available.
Follow these 10 tips, you’ll be on the road to landing your dream job in no time.
Apply now for the ultimate DC experience at WISH!