I recently finished my first co-op placement working as a marketing assistant for a small company. It was one of the most meaningful learning experiences I’ve had, and I’m extremely grateful for the chance to learn so much about the professional world this early in my university career. Although it was a great experience overall, reflecting on it now, there are four things I wish I had known before starting my internship to truly maximize the experience.
Have a Confident Attitude and be Ready to Introduce Yourself to Everyone
Walking into the office on the first day as a student is an extremely nerve-wracking experience for everyone. There is so much unknown, and being the youngest in the office is very intimidating. This made me very timid to introduce myself to different people around the office and pitch in my thoughts/ideas. On my first day, I wish that I walked in and made it my goal to thoroughly introduce myself to everyone in the office –this would have made me feel more comfortable making small talk with them everyday. Even though everyone in the office was a lot older and more experienced than I was, I should have just been myself and tried to give my input when possible instead of staying quiet.
Ignore Imposter Syndrome
Many people in the workplace feel confused and overwhelmed while doing their jobs, but you must remember that there is a reason you were hired over all the other candidates that were up for the job. Just because you feel that you are the least experienced person in the office does not mean you are not competent. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and give your input – you will regret it if you don’t share your thoughts in fear of sounding dumb. Everyone has to start somewhere!
Take Time to Come Up with Ideas to Make Improvements
As an intern, there will be a lot of times where you find yourself waiting for work. Instead of waiting around for a new assignment, you should brainstorm different ways to improve different things your department runs. This could be a new way to organize files, an idea for a social media post, or could even be a small detail to add to an existing project. Sometimes I caught myself waiting around when I had no work, too scared to share ideas of things I could work on with my boss, and I regret cheating myself out of this opportunity.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions or Request Feedback
Since I worked in marketing, there were a lot of creative tasks I completed, including designing graphics, editing videos and writing. Sometimes I struggled to understand the direction I was supposed to go, which led me to have to redo designs I had created just because I was a bit too shy to ask for clarifications. It is also helpful to ask other people in your department (or even the whole office) to get a second opinion on something you’re working on. Odds are, your colleagues have been working for the company for a while and might notice changes you should make to your work that you weren’t able to see! Take advice from your more experienced colleagues.
Looking back, these four things I wish I had known before starting my internship seem obvious now. However, entering an office environment for the first time can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get lost in the anxiety that many interns experience. If I could go back, I would have focused on these things from the very beginning to make the most of my internship and settle into a better work rhythm.