To All the Interns Out There…
Congratulations! You’ve finally landed that internship you’ve been wanting for months. All the interviews are over and you can now rest easy because you’ve officially sealed your spot with the company… right? But as your first day approaches, you may find your anxiety continuing to build as you ask yourself questions about how you’re supposed to act, what you’re supposed to wear and what you’re going to be doing. The age-old cliché comes to mind—where the intern gets the coffee, files all the papers and lives next to the copy machine. Many of us may wonder if that will be the scope of our own internship (and usually we hope that it won’t be.) Even in beginning my own internship, at times I’ve caught myself thinking “Oh, I’m just an intern” as if my thoughts won’t matter or my ideas can’t take flight.
But what if I told you that we aren’t just interns?
What if I told you that you should never act like you’re just an intern?
Countless resources suggest that the best piece of advice you can offer any intern is simply this: Do not act like an intern, rather act like a regular employee within the company. Nothing is automatically out of your reach solely because your job title has the word “intern” in it. As you would any other job, enter your new position with confidence. Many employers view hiring interns as a way to bring new, fresh, creative ideas to their organizations. Capitalize on this by presenting your ideas and perspective when asked. Work like you’re in it for the long haul—internships can eventually lead to full-time work or other long-term opportunities with the company. If you act like you’re only going to be there for a few months and let your work ethic follow accordingly, you may be hurting your chances for these long-term opportunities. Immerse yourself within the company and investigate the company culture as much as possible. Make sure to do your due diligence by asking questions, taking notes, and doing everything you can to show your genuine interest. Never miss an opportunity to network, make a stellar first impression, and start to build lasting relationships. If you find yourself running out of things to do and you’ve completed all of your current tasks to the highest quality you can, ask to take on extra projects. It may be that your employer doesn’t quite know what to expect in an intern and they are waiting for you to take the wheel, ask questions and make the internship “your own.” Be responsible, reliable and always hold true to your word—but be sure to remember that just because you are an intern doesn’t mean you’re just an intern. Chances are if your employer didn’t see the potential for you to bring value to the company, they wouldn’t have hired you in the first place. Don’t limit your own possibilities!
All of this being said, be sure to always be very respectful and professional in any job or internship. An internship is still a learning experience, so don’t be presumptuous—while you should have confidence in your knowledge, don’t be cocky and assume you know everything. While you should ask questions, do your best to find the answer on your own first—try not to ask questions that a simple Google search could answer for you. It is always important to get a good feel for a company’s culture when you’re entering a new workplace, and then to do your best to understand how you fit in to that culture—but don’t automatically glue yourself to the bottom of the totem pole because you think you’re just an intern!
An internship can be an incredible opportunity for learning, growth and networking. It can serve as a great “foot in the door” for many, creating a truly special experience—so do your best to treat it as such. And, as always, Career Services can help with any questions! We also have an online internship portal for students with a ton of resources if you are still looking for an internship experience.
Written by Sarah, senior Finance major