In the time between my summer internship ending and the beginning of the semester, I’ve had some time to look back and think about how my job has impacted me before heading into my senior year. My two internships – we’ll call them Company A and Company B – have taught me not only skills for my career, but what makes a potential employee shine in the office. Both companies taught me a lot about myself, what I am good (and bad) at and what my passions are. But most importantly, they gave me some tips that could help everyone in the stage between college and employment. With that being said, here are 6 essential things I learned as an intern:
1. It’s okay to dislike your major
What I’ve learned above all at both Companies A and B is how much I do not want to work in the field that I’ve been studying. I’ve been a public relations major for three years, but the real world has taught me that it’s just not for me – and that’s fine. I tried a PR internship and I didn’t like it. I then wound up in advertising by accident and I loved it. I’ve met employees from all sorts of majors – they changed courses multiple times until they found what they loved. An internship should help you find out what you like and don’t like; and what you like in the real world won’t always coincide with what you studied in college.
2. GPA doesn’t matter…
It killed me when I found out that my GPA truly did not matter in the real world. I’d worked so hard every semester to keep that number moving upwards, and my employers had no idea. I don’t think my worth (or anyone’s) should be based on numbers, but I wanted my efforts to be acknowledged in some way. Instead, a job will judge you for your work ethic and the effort you put in – the way it should be. It can be frustrating to find out that being a good student doesn’t always correlate to being a good worker, but isn’t it better to not have your hard work summed up into three permanent numbers?
3. …What matters is how you handle yourself
In most cases, there are going to be a lot of times at work when the pressure gets high. It’s beyond important to keep your cool, even when it feels impossible. Learning this at Company A prepared me better for Company B, which was driven by constantly changing deadlines. I tried my best not to let the stress show, and was commended for it at the end of the summer. My boss noticed when I kept it together, even when I wasn’t expected to. Your employers already know that things can get tough – show them you’re capable of handling it.
4. Step up to the challenge and volunteer yourself as much as possible
Being the intern that is always ready to help will go a long way. I always tried to jump on as many projects as I could, and still asked for more. I wanted my bosses to know that I was eagerly awaiting the next challenge. Soon, they started to trust me with more complex tasks. By showing that I could be trusted, my range of responsibilities grew. Even if you are unsure if you can handle a task, show that you are interested in learning something new.
5. Don’t run for the door when your shift is over
I know that happy hour is tempting and often considered necessary after a long day. It was never easy for me to part with the idea of a post-work margarita. But when it comes to the office, it’s about long-term goals, not short-term relief. If you’re looking for a full-time job where you interned, they’ll remember if you stayed late to help your teammates – conversely, they’ll also remember if you watched the clock and ran for the door as soon as you could.
6. If you don’t laugh every day – you can’t work there
Work can get stressful. Duh. What makes the tough days worth it is the relationships you form and the fun moments that happen every day. It may be premature, as no intern can know where they will wind up, but it’s so important to find a place that makes you laugh and feel good. Being happy is one of the most important factors to consider when making career decisions. If you can’t smile at least once a day, how can you commit yourself there for years?
Internships are meant to be a learning experience. They might not always lead you to your dream career, but the path they take you down might be even better than what you imagined.