Succeeding in Your Internship
You spent the last few months applying for internships when, all the sudden, you’ve been accepted! That’s great and all, but how do you make the most of your internship, especially alongside the headache that is college life? To try and help you, here are a few tips for succeeding in your internship.
1. Proactivity: There’s no better way to make your job better, and impress your supervisor, than to actively search for new projects and stay ahead. The more work you get used to, the easier your job can become overall. That may sound contradictory, but being proactive will prepare you for your career as well as improve your understanding of the work you’re doing. Remember that you’re investing in your future through your internship, so you should be doing everything you can to get ready for the next step.
2. Balance: You’re already tackling enormous responsibilities with college and whatever you do at home, and an internship only adds to the pressure. Nevertheless, you can still succeed in all facets of your life by taking the time to balance the things you’ve committed to. There’s a time for work and a time for leisure, yes, but be careful not to sway too far in either direction. On one hand, you may forsake your responsibilities and take too many breaks. On the other, you could completely ignore your home life and friends for the entire semester. Both paths lead to more pain than they’re worth.
3. Networking: As mentioned above, your internship is likely your first experience in the professional world, so it’s the perfect opportunity for you to connect with experts. They can offer you tips based on experience, critiques over your work and even potential jobs for the future. Especially in a field like public relations, professionals come with experiences as unique as themselves, so there’s always something for you to learn. On top of experts, you’ll also have the opportunity to network with fellow interns. These are the same people you’ll be working with when you become the expert, so getting to know them will only further your success.
Internships can be stressful. Even the best of students can have trouble dealing with school, their personal life and an internship, but it’s not an impossible feat. By taking certain steps to prepare yourself for your commitments, you can not only make it past this strenuous period, you can excel at it. Remember to stay proactive in your internship and find ways to make yourself look good, never forget about the countless other things going on in your life and always, ALWAYS be looking for ways to expand your network. Good luck!
