How To Make Yourself Unforgettable At Your Internship

We all know internships are an amazing way to kick-start your career, but once you land the perfect gig, how do you make yourself unforgettable? With its amazing 10-week summer internship program, Unilever knows a thing or two (or four) about how to stand out from the pack and set the stage for your future career.

So grab a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (made my Unilever). We’re sharing their top advice for a successful summer internship experience.

Be a Problem Solver and Think Differently

Unilever’s interns aren’t there to do busy work. They come from around the country to solve real business problems in a range of areas, including supply chain, research and development, marketing, information technology, finance, customer development and human resources. Successful interns don’t give up when a project gets challenging. Instead, they push themselves to think differently, try new things and find a smart solution. That problem-solving spirit can be felt company-wide: Unilever committed to using 100 percent clean energy by 2030, and you better believe interns play a role in making that a reality.

Welcome (and learn from) Feedback

Unilever’s internship coordinators want every intern to have an amazing time and learn a ton from their experience. That’s why all interns are given a project and evaluated on their progress both mid-way through the program and at the end of it. The most successful interns ask a lot of inquisitive questions and take any feedback to heart. That way, when the end of the program arrives, they can wow everyone with how much they’ve improved. Take this approach and there’s a good chance you’ll be top-of-mind when your company is ready to hire full-time employees.

Be a Leader

Did you know Unilever’s VP of Human Resources started out as an intern? Opportunities for growth and leadership don’t just come along for full-time hires at a company, so seek them out from day one as an intern. In fact, Unilever recognizes ambition and looks to hire as many interns as possible into its Future Leaders Program after graduation, so you’ll want to keep your eye on the prize all internship long. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase your leadership skills, too. At the end of the program, interns present their projects to an influential crowd of senior management and other stakeholders. If you want to impress this audience, you can’t wait until the last minute to prepare. So work hard and study up throughout your time there. And when it’s time to present, own it.

Ready to make your mark and learn a ton at Unilever? They’re hiring now, so check out their open positions on WayUp and apply!