After spending three summers working for three different companies, from technology to agriculture to consumer products, I like to think I have learned a few things about internships. So, here is some advice that usually isn’t mentioned in the other internship articles.
1. You are the youngest person in the company.
With most companies, you, as the intern, will be the youngest person there by at least five years. After being in college, it will come as quite a shock. You will have to take the lead and figure out how to work with people with MBAs, PhDs, and Masters with years of experience ahead of you. While it can be challenging at times, it can also be the most valuable to you if you figure it out properly. All it takes is a little initiative. When lunchtime rolls around, walk up to your coworkers’ table and ask if you can eat with them. If you can put yourself out there, you will gain the most out of your experience.
2. You will be overwhelmed, probably on the daily.
Going in, you should realize that you will not be the smartest person in the company. I guarantee you there will be days that you are in a meeting with fellow coworkers and they mention a topic in your field. But then they will apply company specific lingo, along with high level terminology and you will slowly get very lost. Let the frustration fuel you, because it will help you learn more than you expected during your time at the company. Ask for terms to be defined, and ask to have more clarification on the topic. The most important thing is to ask questions.
3. Do a project well, then ask for more work.
At the internship you will be given projects, and depending on the type, they may take up all of your time, but most do not. Your free time is your golden ticket without the lifetime supply of chocolate, just the ability to learn more. This is the chance for you to ask for more work. Asking for more work from your teacher during the school year probably isn’t something you do. But with an internship this is a must. It shows that you are up for a more challenging task. If your boss says there is nothing else to be done then reach out to another member on the team, even shadowing them will help.
4. Thank you letters
A simple “thank you” goes a long way, and during your internship a short thank you email is even more effective. This will set you apart from others and it only takes five minutes. Now you don’t have to send a thank you email to everyone you interact with, but if someone has taken time out of their day to help you on a big project, or the head of a different department has set out time in their day to meet with you, then an email after is recommended. You can first of all thank them for their time, mention something they told you, and then follow up with how you will use the information. A brief email is all that is needed, but it will mark a spot in their mind for who you are.
5. Working with older people
After spending the entire school year around people your own age, one important skill an internship teaches you is how to interact with people who aren’t your age. Socializing in college can sometimes be challenging but when you intern at a company, interacting with coworkers is an entirely different concept. If you keep in mind the age difference and stick to good topics, like sports and current events, then you will be just fine. Interacting with people of all ages can give you a new perspective on your interests. So read up on the current events of the week so when you get invited to lunch you are able to chip in on the conversation.
6. Make the most of the short time.
When a quarter at Cal Poly is 10 weeks you may feel as the weeks drag on but sooner or later you wonder where the time has gone. Internships can be compared to the quarter system, as they usually don’t go longer than three months. A tip to get the most out of it is spend a week before the internship and learn about the company. The bigger the company, the more departments, procedures and overall management techniques. The key to succeeding in the company is to learn the main goals, and figure out how you will be fit within the division you are working with. Then when you begin your internship you can hit the ground running and not spend the first few weeks just learning about the company.
7. Learn by literally doing.
Even though this motto is common around the Cal Poly campus, this 100% applies with an internship. Most internships will not have a final at the end of the internship, or a textbook that neatly wraps the entire company up with highlighted vocabulary words. This means that it is time to apply things you learned in the classroom and be willing to think outside of the box.
8. Dipping your toes in the adult world through internships
Keep in mind that you might intern for a few companies but there is a world of possibility for you throughout your entire life. Don’t let one company define you. For example, if you intern in a finance department of a technology company it will be vastly different than if you intern at a small start-up. Interning is more about the job field, but figuring out what type of company you would like to work for after college is good too.
9. Educational interviews
Among the “how to” articles for internships, many will recommend that you learn as much as possible during an internship, but how you go about doing that is the key. Educational meetings are the most efficient way to learn a lot in a short period of time. These usually consist of sitting down with someone on your team, or another team for 30 to 40 minutes and finding out what they do on a daily basis. Talking to people currently working at the company enables you to figure out how they ended up there. As a college student you will be hired into a lower level position to begin with so talking with someone who was most recently in your shoes will help you figure out what you want to do after you graduate college. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other departments. Especially if your company holds an introduction day and has speakers from different parts of the company.
10. Immerse yourself in the company.
Even though the internship may feel like it is going to last forever, before you know it, you will be going back to school. So make sure to go to every informational session. Immerse yourself in the culture, attend company events and try and eat lunch with as many different people as possible. If you can manage a new project take it on, and be open to opportunities.
You may even find yourself in the elevator with the CEO of the entire company and have the confidence to introduce yourself, because it all comes down a simple “Hello.”