7 Ways to be an Awesome Intern

Internships can be pretty awesome. During an internship you have the opportunity to gain real world experience, build connections with professionals in your industry, add new skill sets to your resume… and the list goes on. An internship is one step in furthering your career so why not put in 100%. Below are 7 ways to be an awesome intern:

1. Show Up Early
Being on time is great but why not be a total rockstar and make a habit of showing up to your internship 5 minutes early? Although this may seem small, it shows that you are organized, on top of your day, and dedicated to the internship. This is an easy way to impress your supervisor before you even sit down at your desk.

2. Work Your Butt Off
Seriously. An internship can be an awesome opportunity. If you work your butt off don’t be afraid to ask for things that can help you while moving forward in your career: 1. Letter of Recommendation: this can be gold when you’re applying for new job opportunities. 2. References: When applying for a new job you want to make sure you have strong references who can confirm your awesome work ethic. 3. Permanent Positions: If you do an awesome job, it can’t hurt to ask about any long-term opportunity they are currently hiring for.

3. Network
Spend time getting to know the people who work in your office. Go to happy hour with other interns and colleagues, attend company events, and stay an extra 15 minutes at the end of the day to help out a coworker. If you get along with your colleagues in and out of work it’s going to show that you would be a great long-term fit for the company. Building long-term relationships will only help you throughout your career.

4. Dress Up
You spent hours writing the perfect resume, nailed the interview, and finally landed your dream internship. Now what the heck are you going to wear? Find out what the company culture is when it comes to attire. If your colleagues always wear a full suit, you don’t want to be too casual. Do your research ahead of time to make sure you pick out an awesome outfits that’s appropriate and shows your professionalism.

5. Avoid Social Media
Social media + your internship is a horrible idea. Yes, we are all absolutely addicted to our social media accounts. However, that doesn’t mean you should be checking them during your internship. You should actually avoid all of your social media accounts at all costs. Checking them on the job will make you look inexperienced and unprofessional. So, as hard as it may be, try your best to check them after hours.

6. Document Anything and Everything
Make sure to document everything that you work on during your internship: conferences you organize, pamphlets you put together, logos you design, software you learn… anything!  An internship gives you the opportunity to gain professional work experience. This is experience you can add to your resume or even share in a future interview. So make sure to jot down anything new you are working on along the way.

7. Write Thank You Notes
When your internship is coming to an end, make sure to send out thank you notes to anyone who impacted your experience. This might be your direct supervisor, your team, and even the receptionist. Writing thank you notes will show that you truly valued your internship, plus you will be remembered by your colleagues once it comes to an end.

I would love to hear from you! If you already completed an internship, what is your #1 piece of advice on becoming an awesome intern?

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