Energize Your Internship Experience (Minus the Coffee Runs)

No one signs up for an internship to make coffee runs and pick up their boss’ dry cleaning. Unfortunately many interns leave their internship experience with little to show for the time they spent. It is important that you use your internship to accumulate valuable skills that you can add to your resume to secure a desired employment opportunity. Here are 4 things to keep in mind to help you make the most of your internship.

1. Write down a list of skills.

Your internship is a stepping stone to help you achieve your desired position. Before starting your internship, write down the skill requirements associated with an entry level position in the industry you desire. These are the skills you should look to acquire while interning. Once you have settled into your internship and displayed your ability to handle the tasks that are delegated to you, you may want to consider sharing your list with your manager to see if you are able to learn the skills you need to land the position you desire. You could even use this list to decide between multiple internship offers in order to determine which internship opportunity offers the most value.

2. Do what is requested and ask for more.

Your internship manager is likely to write you a letter of recommendation if you do the tasks that are delegated to you. Be sure to execute every task (no matter how minuscule) in order to display a solid work ethic and respect for authority. Once you habitually complete the tasks assigned to you, attempt to expand your workload. Consider requesting additional tasks that either showcase your abilities or allow you to learn new skills.

3. Keep track of your tasks.

During your internship you should keep a list of the tasks you complete. By having a list of what you’ve accomplished, you’ll make resume building process easier in the future.

4. Show your personality.

Aside from your work, your personality allows you to stand-out and differentiate yourself from your co-workers. As long as you maintain proper work etiquette, showing your personality is an added bonus in the workplace.