10 Ways to Make the Most of Your First Internship
After starting college, finding an internship was my next big (and intimidating) thing. I had very little job experience thanks to COVID-19 and felt completely unprepared. Despite this, my first role gave me the insight I needed to feel confident about my future in Ad/PR. How does that all seem possible?
Your first internship is a daunting step toward not only the beginning of your career but also the formation of your character. I went from an extremely shy student to a young professional making connections in multiple industries. Looking back, the short four months at a local manufacturing company changed my career’s trajectory in more ways than one. Here are a few things I learned from taking an internship job offer that any intern should make sure to do:
1. Introduce yourself
I know, it can feel kind of awkward sometimes. But as soon as you figure out who you will be working alongside, you will want to make connections and open yourself up to more opportunities! Plus, who doesn’t like work friends?
2. Get in the habit of creating lists
We all have our own ways to organize our lives, but you will really want to find a list-making system that works for you at your new job. Especially in communications, it seems like people are constantly needing a task completed (on top of your own!). There are some great virtual task managers out there, unless you like paper… then just find some great pens and a notebook.
3. Learn about the company
It goes without saying that communications professionals need to be familiar with who they’re working for. Ways to do this include exploring the company’s website, competitors’ social media pages, and asking co-workers questions about the industry in general. Working in-house for a manufacturing company was a real challenge since I barely even knew how to spell some of the lingo. It takes effort but gaining that knowledge pays off when you can create a great end project that reflects well for your company.
4. Set goals
What do you actually want to get out of this internship? Of course you might need it for class credit, but what do you hope it does for you? Setting a goal brings you closer to achieving it. When I started my internship, my goals were to
Build upon my current skills
Gain more knowledge in a new industry
Grow as a professional and learn how to work as part of a team to create meaningful relationships
5. Take notes
New jobs are such a whirlwind and details are easy to forget. You will also be using skills that might feel second-nature…until you leave that job and your notes become a lifesaver.
6. Ask SO many questions
No question is a dumb question. Ask why people do things the way they do. Ask the professionals around you about their experience and their suggestions. If your internship is required for college credit, take it as a learning opportunity! There are some things college doesn’t teach you that real-world professionals absolutely can.
7. Share new ideas
Your reasons for obtaining an internship are clear, but why was this company needing an intern? It’s likely not just to help you achieve college credit. Companies need help from fresh minds like yours and often expect your input.
8. Take on boring tasks
I know, it may seem like the intern gets the tasks no one wants to do. That’s not always true, but even if you feel like it is, there’s value in taking on tasks that might not be so easy. You will earn credibility for being a team player and colleagues will trust you with your work!
9. Say yes to involvement opportunities
If you come across new ways to get involved in your job, don’t overlook them. I have almost passed up opportunities that actually led to some great connections and important insight from industry experts that could help me later. On top of that, it showed that I was open to more opportunities later on.
10. Ask for feedback
When all is said and done, you will want to know how this experience went for the employer. No matter how uncertain you are, ask your supervisor how things are going both during and after your internship experience. Hopefully, they’ll provide you with constructive feedback that you can carry into your next role.
You might not know what to expect when entering a new position (internship or otherwise), but that is normal. Your internship will not require you to be an expert! Likewise, remember that not every experience will be like your internship. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, use that knowledge to try out a couple of different jobs before settling into the perfect opportunity. Not every business will run the way your first internship did, and not every role will expect the same work. Regardless of that, finding the right fit can be the most fun of your entire career if you put in the effort.
About Katie
Katie Lindow is a senior pursuing a BS in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Psychology. This will be her first year with GrandPR as an Account Associate. Katie has been a Marketing Intern for DeWys Manufacturing as well as a Social Media Intern for Haus Social and worked on their podcasting team. Currently, she is continuing her role as a Digital Skills Consultant for GVSU Libraries. After graduation, she hopes to use her creative skills as part of a new team or even eventually start her own business.