How to get the most out of your internship experience
Starting a new internship can be very exciting but it’s important to know how you can get the most out of this unique experience. Whether it’s a small company or a larger one, you have to learn as much as you possibly can. There are a number of things you can be doing to get the most, here are 10 key points to consider.
1. Set yourself a goal
This can help align your efforts and provide a sense of focus for what you want to get out of the experience. For example, if you are doing a digital marketing internship, you could focus on a specific department such as SEO to gain a deeper understanding of the field.
2. Manage your time effectively
This is very important. Knowing how to manage your time and doing it effectively can provide a plethora of new opportunities for yourself. Having spare time in your schedule can allow you to meet new people and learn more about the company or the industry.
3. Keep busy
Managing your time effectively would be pointless if you weren’t doing anything. Asking for tasks or being part of meetings are great ways to keep yourself busy and develop a stronger understanding of the job. Giving these tasks your full attention and effort is also key if you want to get correct feedback.
4. Actively listen
Being an intern means you're going to be taking in a lot of new information and so it’s best to have a notebook handy whether you're in a zoom call or sitting in a meeting. And it’s okay to ask for information to be repeated, you're there to learn!
5. Ask lots of questions
It’s not only listening that’s important, it’s also crucial to ask questions to your co-workers. The true job role of an intern is to ask as many questions as possible and so don’t be afraid to ask a question, no matter how basic.
6. Act professionally
Treat the internship as though it were your full-time job. Wearing the right work attire and responding to emails in a professional manner are just some of the ways you can act professionally.
7. Be friendly to everyone
It’s important to socialise and meet as many new people as possible. This makes it a lot easier to ask for help when needed and helps you feel more comfortable.
8. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake
When you're an intern, note that you're doing an entry-level position and so you are not expected to be perfect and know everything. Making mistakes can help you to learn and gain meaningful experience.
9. Do some research
Researching the industry or the company before the internship starts is a great way to be a step ahead and prime your brain to receive new information relating to the job. This also helps with interviews as it shows your interest in both the industry and the company itself.
10. Track what you do
It’s good practice to write down your experiences in a journal so you can refer to what you learned in the future. It would be impossible to remember every bit of information from the experience, so try and make a habit to note down key points or interesting things you've noticed. This notepad can be used as a refresher when updating your CV or before a job interview.
As a whole, being an intern is a very unique opportunity to understand the company as well as the industry itself. It’s also a great way to develop your own set of skills and utilise them in your future career. Getting the most out of your internship should be your priority so you can help both the company and yourself.
If you want to find out more about internships and careers in Digital Marketing, book a space at our digital careers conference, Aspiration Digital.
