What To Focus on While in Your Internship

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Author: Dina Barabash, Content Development & Web Specialist
Posted: July 22, 2022

Congratulations, you have earned yourself an internship! This is an amazing opportunity for you to learn, grow and acquire new skills. The key is to remember that you get what you put into this experience. The more you put into your time at the internship, the more you will gain. So, what should you focus on during this time? Let us offer you some insight.

Let’s begin at the beginning. Start your reputation as a punctual intern. This reputation will serve you well as an intern and throughout your career. A good tip is to show up on time (or early) in the morning, arrive for meetings before they begin, and complete tasks by their deadlines. Punctuality is a trait that most employers can agree is appreciated and valued in the workplace.

Learning is just as important as teaching. While in this new opportunity, be sure to learn from your peers, co-workers and leadership. This is your chance to sharpen your learning curve and build relationships with people at all levels – people want to hear your perspective as much as you want to learn something new from them.

Lastly, know what you are getting into when you begin. A good way to do this is to have an open discussion with your employer in regard to expectations and responsibilities. A few examples of goals and expectations you may want to discuss include specific skills you want to work on, areas or projects your employer needs help with, how you’ll seek guidance or ask questions when needed, where to find resources and answers on your own, how your employer will deliver feedback on your performance, and how to communicate about delays or adjust timelines on an assignment if needed. This type of conversation, as well as the previous tips, will lay the groundwork for a successful internship.