How to make the most of an internship

Finding an internship is a great way to improve your experience of working in a specific industry. After secondary school, many young people find themselves in a challenging position when applying for jobs in popular industries.

On the one hand, you may have the necessary A-Levels required for the job but on the other, you lack the practical experience.

But how can you gain work experience if no-one is willing to give you a job, right?

Well, that’s where internships can be particularly useful. Although they’re not always paid positions, an internship will help you gain valuable experience that will look good on your CV and help you secure a job within your chosen industry. So, to help you make the most of your internship, we’ve put together this post, which shares some useful hints and tips for making a good impression.

Volunteer to help wherever you can

Every office has its jobs that no-one wants to do. Whether it’s filing paperwork, scanning documents or arranging birthday cake for the boss, every job has its less-than-glamourous side.

During your internship, if you find yourself with time on your hands, then why not volunteer to help out with some of these things? Okay, so you may not learn anything new from doing these tasks per se, but it’ll give you the opportunity to experience a different aspect of the business and meet new people, who you can strike up a conversation with and ask for their wisdom.

One of the best pieces of advice we could give regarding internships is to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity (within reason of course) as your time with the company will be limited and you won’t know when you’ll have the opportunity to experience these things again.

Think of it this way, the more you get involved, the more you’ll have to write about on your CV, which will increase your chances of securing a job in the future.

Ask to be a part of internal and external meetings

Interns can learn a lot from sitting in on company meetings. In our experience, it’s during meetings that you really get a flavour for what it’s like to work for a company. Being involved in meetings, even as a spectator will help you get to grips with processes, how targets are formed and how everybody’s roles in the company come together.

As an intern, you may even have some suggestions to bring to the table regarding current projects.

By taking the initiative and asking to be a part of meetings, you’ll show your enthusiasm for gaining experience, which can make an impression on the powers that be, who may be in a position to offer you a job in the future.

Look for shadowing opportunities

Most interns have specific roles to fulfill throughout their time with a company; however, if possible, you should try to arrange shadowing opportunities elsewhere in the office, in order to see what other people in the company do. You’ll be surprised at just how much you can learn from sitting beside someone and observing their work.

Shadowing also gives you the chance to speak to other people and to learn about how their job ties into the overall business operation. You may even discover a role that you think you’d enjoy working in full-time, which can give you a specific focus for job searching or gaining more specific work experience.

Dress for the part

Even though your internship will only be temporary, you should make an effort to look like a full-time member of staff. Take note of what others in the office are wearing and invest in a wardrobe that reflects the office dress code. Not only will people take you more seriously if you’re dressed for the part, but you’ll feel more like part of the team, which will give you confidence to express your thoughts and opinions.

Your employer will notice if you’ve made the effort to dress for the role, which will hopefully create a lasting impression and help you secure a job with the company in the future.

Although not every internship opportunity has a job waiting for you at the end of your placement, many do and you shouldn’t write off the chance of working with that company once your internship is over. Bearing this in mind, it’s always good to leave on the best terms possible and take a note of any contacts that you’ve made during your time there. It’s also a good idea to ask your employer if you can use their name as a reference for future roles and to request that they keep you in mind if any positions come up with the company in the future.

Do you have an internship coming up? How do you plan to make the most of the experience? Perhaps you’ve completed an internship in the past? What advice would you give to students about to undertake their first placement?

For more student careers advice, search the Success at School careers advice blog.

By Jamie Thomson