Getting the most out of your Internship

First and foremost – start with and maintain a positive attitude towards your work and the company throughout your internship.

• Network effectively – get to know people within your organisation.

• Don’t say no.

• Get references for the work you do.

• Send hand-written notes to say thank you notes or letters to those who really help you.

• Use the internship as a career exploration opportunity – could you really work in this industry? Could you work for this company when you graduate? If you do, how can you secure an offer at the end of your internship?

• Learn “hungrily” – show your supervisors and others you want to learn, they will, generally help you.

• Look for and seek out things to add value to your CV/Resume such as projects/activities; volunteering activities; presentations you give; training you attend, etc. Regularly review and update your CV throughout your internship rather than leave it to one big update at the end – or worse leave it until you next need to apply for a job – possibly a considerable time later!

• Watch for and seek out opportunities to develop your skills, especially those you are weaker at.

• Keep an eye on what you are asked to do to make sure it is broadly in line with what you were offered. Work of a similar or greater complexity is fine – too much work at a lower level may reduce the value you get from the whole experience.

• Equally if you feel you are being put under too much pressure you should also raise this with your Industrial and/or Academic supervisor.

• Put personal reviews into your diary periodically through your internship.

• Throughout your internship periodically review your objectives. How many can be ticked off? Are you making progress towards them? Are you making progress in the skills development you planned?

• Check with your supervisor/mentor how frequently and in what form they would like you to report your progress. Then deliver to this schedule. Don't be late and avoid needing to be reminded.

• Be proactive in seeking experiences from which you can learn and develop, these may be within your work area or activities the company sponsors or supports it employees or the local community in.

Research