8 Great Tips for Interns
1. Come to work prepared.
Before you set our your suit the night before, prepare a binder full of examples and previous work you have done in school. Give yourself examples of blog posts, press releases and other forms of media that will become useful when you are stuck. If anything, the work in the binder will give you a boost of confidence knowing you capable of getting things done right.
2. Khakis and a polo do not qualify for a suit.
OK, so none of you would actually wear khakis and a polo to work. But keep in mind that anything other than a suit is not appropriate unless your employers have otherwise told you so. Looking professional will make you feel professional and will encourage you to demonstrate your best work ethic. Even if you decide to wear those black pants and button up, bringing a jacket will do nothing short of keeping you prepared. You never know who you will be meeting that day you decide to dress down.
3. Ask for more work.
Do this only if you can tolerate it. If you still have a PR plan and 3 press releases to finish by the end of the day, this might not be the best idea. When you can, just send an email to your supervisor or coworkers and ask them if they need someone to post on the company blog or if they have any other work that they would like assistance. Your coworkers will appreciate the help and will remember it later on when it is the end of the day and you are overwhelmed.
4. Be open to criticism.
We are not perfect by any means. You may think you write awesome press releases, but when the supervisor returns it with critical comments, take the time to read and fix them. When you take the criticism to heart, you will remember how to fix it before you hand the next press release in. Just remind yourself not to take the criticism personally. They are just tips on how to improve your work.
5. Eat lunch with your coworkers.
There may be days when you want to get out by yourself, but take the time to invite your coworkers on occasion. Keep in mind that in this industry, it is important to make relationships and network. You don't have to be best friends with everyone, but getting to know people outside the office environment will help you better understand what they are about. Plus, taking a break is necessary. Why not do it with people who can give you advice and share stories about what you are interested in?
6. Try not to make the same mistake twice.
When you are surrounded by people who have been in the business for years, they have their own way of doing things. They may be stressed out some days and impatient. When they are telling you to fix the same mistakes, they may get short with you. Just remember that this is a stressful industry and don't take their frustrations to heart. You are still learning. Take notes and keep copies of corrected work so you can reference it later on.
7. Get a Mentor.
Use your coworkers as mentors. Develop relationships with them that will become helpful later on and look up to them. Find someone who you can look to for advice and that can help you when you need it. Maybe someone stood out during your lunch date that you could see yourself keeping in touch with long after the internship.
8. Find out ways to help your place of work.
Once you have settled in and have a better idea of what your projects will be, figure out ways to help your organization. For example, start a blog. Contribute to social media efforts by posting updates on social media channels. Helping your place of work will be appreciated and gain experience.
Taking the time to do your work efficiently and gain experience will benefit your overall relationship with the company. Never forget your primary reason for taking the internship, to learn more about the overall industry.
Tia and Abigail
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