Making the most of your internshi

INTERNSHIPS are a great way for students to gain experience and understand how the professional working environment operates. They also allow students to determine if they truly have an interest in a particular career.

There is an abundance of benefits to working as an intern and here is how you can go about reaping them.

Be prepared before your internship – It is crucial to know the job scope of your internship before applying. Before I applied for an internship, I paid close attention to the job scopes stated in each internship job advertisement.

I settled on one that promised me that I would be writing and sure enough, here I am writing an article about internships. Also, remember that internships do not pay much. You are there for the experience and knowledge, not the money.

Be a sponge – Well, not literally, but as an intern, you should try to absorb as much information as you can while you are at the organisation. Take notes and ask important questions.

This is so that at the end of your internship, you would have expanded your knowledge in that line of work and the professional environment. When my supervisor gave me feedback, I had my notebook and pen ready in hand to jot down everything.

Be present – Put effort into being a part of the organisation – participate in conversations, events and occasions. Be aware of the company’s norms and culture and follow them.

Have a positive mindset – It is important that you maintain a positive attitude from day one of your internship. Be willing to take on tasks assigned to you.

During my time as an intern, I always kept an open mind when being assigned to a task. Even if it was something I had never done before, I knew my supervisor was there to guide me. I have successfully completed several assignments that range from writing articles to attending press conferences.

Accept tasks no matter how big or small they are and always give your best. A little enthusiasm can go a long way.

Start networking – Take your internship as an opportunity to gain contacts. Further down the line in your career, these contacts could prove vital to the progression of your professional life.

It is a good idea to keep in contact with your colleagues and employers. The best way to do that is to keep their phone numbers and add them on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Knowing certain people and keeping in touch with them could also open doors to differen experiences and career opportuniti for you to explore.

Be open to feedback – As you enter working life, it is important that you are steadily getting better at what you do. For improvements to happen, you must be receptive to feedback and constructive criticism.

I used to get nervous when my supervisor called me over to her desk and I would see my article on her monitor with bright red improve my writing.

Bear in mind that you are there to learn and gain experience. Appreciate every bit of advice and feedback you get from your colleagues and try to make improvements immediately. –