Tips Learned as an Intern

I remember the first day of my internship. I had accepted responsibility for many tasks I wasn’t sure that I could handle. I walked off the comfort of my university campus and into a fully-operating company with real clients and real public relations work. I was terrified!

With each day I learned more. Challenges were solves and new problems no longer seemed that intimidating. Once I conquered one issue, I could use that to tackles the rest.

Below I present a few tips I learned as an intern:

-         Bring paper and a pen to take notes anywhere you go. This will show you are ready for action and it will make sure you don’t forget anything.

-         Be willing to do anything, even sweep the floor.

-         Be a sponge. Treat every moment as a learning opportunity.

-         Don’t ask questions you can answer yourself.

-         Think outside the box. With everything you encounter, there will always be one thing that can make it better. Don’t limit yourself.

-         Sleep well the night before work. You need to operate at the top of your game.

-         Speak up and be honest. Your immediate reactions or ideas are often more valuable than you would think.

-         Have something to offer. When asked your opinion, never just say, “It looks good.” Companies need someone who contributes, not just someone who compliments.

-         Ask questions when necessary. Questions can clarify directions or solve a problem. You will never know everything, so don’t be afraid to ask.

-         Research everything. Your goal is to be an equal contributor. To do this, always come to the table over-prepared. As Professor Batchelor says, “Always be the smartest person in the room.”

-         Loosen up. Your boss is still a human. He or she has hobbies, goals and skills just like you. Often, your boss can relate to your position and remember back to the time he or she was just starting out.