How To Make The Most of An Internship
11:30 AM
After working at my first internship for about a year and a half, I’ve learned valuable in-office lessons as well
as some life lessons. As an intern for a
Marketing and PR firm, I had a lot of computer-based work; this included:
tracking mentions for companies, drafting and posting content on social media,
occasionally drafting a company blog post and more than anything, countless
hours creating lists of people to reach out to or for specific events,
newsletters or reporters for clients.
While there was never time wasted working on billable hours
for clients, there was some downtime that was occasionally filled with
mind-numbing tasks: making umpteen copies, hand-writing addresses on note cards (horrible
for millennials), cutting and labeling photos, ordering and unpacking office
supplies or simply organizing the hard-copy files of previous projects.
The number one lesson I learned; always be hungry for work.
Even if it is dull or tedious, there is always something to be done. This fact seems especially true in a small
office setting.
As a millennial who had never worked in an office setting
before, I learned how to fax a letter, weigh and stamp postage, and come to the
conclusion that my cursive handwriting is almost useless (handwriting addresses
was a struggle). These small tasks, along with the major marketing and PR
duties I’ve learned, have taken my knowledge of my major further than I thought
it could go. With that being said, I also realized that I know close to nothing
compared to someone who is 10 to 20 years my senior. Every day I have learned
something new whether it had to do with style and formatting, marketing lingo,
or simply how to proofread a document. Here are some other tips I can offer:
Secure
at least one internship in an agency setting.
This being my first
internship, I have learned that each company no matter the size operates in its own way. Not only have I gained insight on the day-to-day activities in my own
office but also in our client’s offices. I was able to sit in for conference
calls, work with our clients directly and also work behind the scenes and still
get an idea of what everyone’s role is on a project.
Show
up on time or call if you’ll be late.
Self-explanatory
Always
bring a pen and paper into your meetings.
The number one, most
important thing in my opinion is to WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. As a millennial, I
am incredibly grateful that I do not rely on an e-copy of my calendar or tasks;
I am a pen-and-paper kind of gal. I love keeping lists of everything I do or
have done. Also, it’s great to go to instructional meetings dealing with your
next project with pen and paper in hand. Mostly so that your boss doesn’t
repeat their instructions more than once, but even more so that you don’t forget
to actually finish the project itself. When it comes to billing at the end of
the week, it’s much easier to flip back through your notepad to see what you
worked on and how long it took rather than to shuffle and filter through
countless emails you’ve received in the past month.
Realize
that there is much admin-related support work.
I was warned there is a lot; it’s actually not that bad. Your attitude about an internship really plays a large role. If you are dissatisfied by doing assignments that aren’t directly related to the job at hand, it will make your internship unbearable. The admin-support related work breaks up your day and often times you learn life-skills that aren’t typically addressed in your regular busy schedule. For me, I learned how to properly weigh and apply postage to a letter that I wouldn’t have done at home. I even got to play with a toddler that was out of school early for an hour while her mom was on a conference call. This was particularly fun for me since my previous background included many years of being a nanny and after-school babysitter.
I was warned there is a lot; it’s actually not that bad. Your attitude about an internship really plays a large role. If you are dissatisfied by doing assignments that aren’t directly related to the job at hand, it will make your internship unbearable. The admin-support related work breaks up your day and often times you learn life-skills that aren’t typically addressed in your regular busy schedule. For me, I learned how to properly weigh and apply postage to a letter that I wouldn’t have done at home. I even got to play with a toddler that was out of school early for an hour while her mom was on a conference call. This was particularly fun for me since my previous background included many years of being a nanny and after-school babysitter.
Look
for ways to wow us in your work or with your ideas to streamline any processes.
In this field, I think the best way to wow someone with your work is too make
sure you get it done correctly and in a timely manner. Using spellcheck and
grammar check is also important even on an internal email; small things make a
difference. If there is a deadline, I encourage you to meet it or beat it.
Prioritizing your work will get you far. If you do make a mistake or fail to
meet a deadline, make sure that your boss knows you’ll avoid it next time.
Ask
questions, especially if you don’t understand an assignment.
Many
interns fear asking their employers questions because they are worried that
they won’t seem smart enough or that they are unable to understand or recall
instructions the first time. It’s hard to swallow that you do not understand
how to do everything you’re given, but it will save both you and your employer time
if you ask questions and do it right the first time. I catch myself asking
questions about press clips (a project I have done daily for the past 17 months) almost once or twice a week. The same goes for assignments I do
throughout the week.
Maintain
the relationship.
Follow ups are a crucial part of being an intern.
These can lead to networking opportunities and potential job opportunities that
you wouldn’t find unless you have been personally referenced by your employer.
Start
and build your LinkedIn profile now.
Since working for MPD Ventures was not
my first job, I had already created a Linked In. But after managing profiles here, I have learned it is important to keep it up-to-date, post articles and
share posts that are related to your expected career, and stay on top of adding
new folks to your network so you are in the loop for open positions and company
events you could be a part of.
To learn more
about me and my qualifications, check out my LinkedIn profile here. I wish
the best of luck to any other interns and hope that you can benefit and
reap knowledge from this article.
xo, kristina
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