1. How to Work: There is more to it than you think.
This sounds obvious, but it’s true. Before my internship, I had never had an office job nor had I worked for a full day. My internship taught me the basics of work they don’t teach you in school. I learned the importance of balancing work life and personal life. It’s also crucial to learn the little things, like how long it takes to get ready in the morning and what you need to bring for a full day on the job (think: food, notebook, and those random things you’ll learn to bring along the way). Truly, learning to work was my biggest takeaway from my internship. After years of mundane work as a cashier and camp instructor, it was nice to put my education to use. My internship showed me I was capable of much more than the minimum wage jobs I’ve had since high school. Instilling a priceless sense of accomplishment and confidence I will carry with me to my future job interviews.
2. How to Have Workplace Confidence: You are there for a reason, prove it.
Voice your opinion in meetings. It reassures both you as well as your boss of your skills and that you are the right person for the job. If you have a solution, say it. If you think of a problem with someone else's solution, say it! You may just stop the company from making a very big mistake. Remember, they hired you for a reason. Always respect the voices of others, but know you have a unique perspective to offer the company that they may haven’t previously considered.
3. How to Dress Professionally: Always put your best shoe forward.
As a self-proclaimed fashionista, I obviously worried about my outfit daily. Was I underdressed? Overdressed? Too young looking or trying too hard to dress older than I am? Eventually, I fell into a nice rhythm by paying attention to what the people around me were wearing. It didn't help that my closest co-workers were all men, but I used their level of clothing formality to help dictate mine. I would plan upcoming outfits before the start of each week, to ease the stress on me during the morning. No one will fault you for being overdressed, but they will definitely remember you for all the wrong reasons if you are underdressed. My new favorite saying is: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
4. How to Behave during Meetings: Stay engaged.
As an intern, it is easy to get lost in the background of a meeting. You’re usually just sitting in and listening, waiting for a cue from your boss to give your two cents. Meetings can be a trap. Don’t fall into that trap and become the awkward shadow behind your supervisor that no one really knows who you are. I’m not saying you should be a loud mouth who gives their opinion on every little point, but it is still crucial to make sure your presence is known. Truly, these meetings are the best time to network and connect with professionals from all different backgrounds, so take advantage of this time to present yourself as the educated, mature person you are. Prepare to be there for a while, as meetings always seem to take longer than expected. Now is the time to put all of those etiquette rules your professors droned on about last semester to good use. Watch your posture, accept business cards with your right hand, and please (for the love of humanity) stay awake during meetings!
5. How to Sound Intelligent: Be in-the-know by reading the news.
It's important to know current events for obvious reasons. You'll appear less naïve and more mature, you'll gain an educated opinion, you’ll have more to talk about and become more interesting, ect. I am not suggesting you bring up politics in the workplace, but you should still know what is going on in the world. Everyone is affected by new legislation and new ideas. You never know what you may read in your spare time that will spark an idea for your company. News is also conversational. If you know your boss likes golf, it's a good idea to read a couple sentences from the PGA Tour headline you just saw and bring up the subject to them later. Small talk can go a long way.
6. How to Impress Your Boss: Go the extra mile.
It's not hard to just try a little harder. Take extra time on your work and put in extra effort. Do not rush projects. This was a hard one for me to learn, as I like to do things as fast as possible. But I soon learned top-level work is far more appreciated than work that is completed quickly. Never sacrifice quality for the quantity of time it takes you to complete something. Your extra efforts will be noticed and perhaps even rewarded with a future job opportunity.
7. How to Recover from Failure: Try, try, try again.
Somewhere along the way, every intern is bound to mess up. It could be minor or it could be major. Luckily, I never messed up anything serious, just a little live Facebook video I was supposed to record but failed to due to technical difficulties. While I know I could have done far worse things, I still felt really bad since my boss was counting on me to get the video. Even though it was a technology issue, I still had to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. So, I practiced filming on my phone and researched how to prevent a live stream from stopping. Eventually, I found a solution to my problem. Fixing a problem is not always easy and will take time, but ensuring you end your internship on a successful note is well worth the extra effort it’s going to take to recover. Your reputation will follow you in life, make sure it’s a good one.
Each day of my summer internship taught me something new, but it is the smaller and less obvious lessons that I think I will benefit from the most. Entering the working world is like entering a new universe. You will no longer be treated as a kid. It’s a big step up, but it’s worth it. My summer experience will carry me far into the future and prepare me for the career of my dreams later down the road. I truly believe each day is a stepping stone towards something greater. Future interns, please take my advice to heart. I promise you are bound to learn these same lessons (and many more) during your internship, too. While your job may seem simple and even boring at times, make the most out of these days because they are truly the ones that will matter later down the road to separate you from the rest of the college graduate pack.
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