My Top Tips for Being an Intern
Getting an internship is a huge achievement. It can open the door to full time employment in something you love, and it's an opportunity that you don't want to waste. Having been an intern myself in the past, I thought I'd give a few friendly words of advice for both before and during your internship. I hope you find this useful!
Before you start your internship
Being an intern doesn't start as soon as your internship does. It starts once you've received confirmation of it. You need to properly prepare for your (potential) first taste of full time employment and there are several ways in which you prep for it. You don't want to burn out before you've started, so take things easy, rest up and follow these simple tips to help you on the run up to the start of your internship.
Make sure you know where you'll be based and take a practice trip there - request full details of your internship, including the building in which you'll be based. If it's on a campus, then pin point the location on Google Maps for example, before taking a trip down there to check the place out. Once you know, have a practice run getting there. If you're planning on going by train when your internship starts, practice getting there on the train. It's the perfect way to see how long it will take, and you'll get a proper feel for the place.
Ensure finances are in order - an internship (generally) is unpaid. So if you'll be spending copious amounts on travel and other expenses, it may be that you can't afford to see it through until the end. Ensure all finances are in check and budget for travel and extra bits and bobs you may need throughout your internship. You don't want to get half way through and find you can no longer afford to get there.
Go clothes shopping - ask what their dress code is before you start work there. If it's an establishment where permanent staff are only allowed to wear suits, and you rock up in jeans and a t-shirt, then you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Ensure you know what the dress code is, and leave enough time to stock up on appropriate clothing, just in case you need to!
Check if there's something else you will need to bring - it may be that you could be required to bring in your own equipment, from pens and pencils to goggles and lab coats, you may need to check with your employer about what you'll need, or won't need to bring. It also shows that you're organised!
During your internship
It's important that you conduct yourself appropriately whilst you're undertaking an internship. It may be that there's a full time, paid employment opportunity afterwards if your internship goes well, and it's important that you make a good, lasting first impression!
Find out what the rules - from dress code to telephone etiquette, a workplace has rules, and it's important that you take the initiative to ask, find them out and then adhere to them. Rules within the workplace are generally basic and not at all like being at school or college, but they're just as important.
Brush up on communication policies, and understand the Data Protection Act - there are strict rules and regulations to follow when it comes to people's personal data and you could risk prosecution if any of it is mishandled. Brush up on the basic principles, and you'll be fine! You should also ask about communication policies within the workplace, this also includes liaising with companies or people outside of the business you're currently doing your internship with.
Know who to contact in case you need a day off or if you're poorly - you should be given a telephone number to ring just in case you need to take a day off or if you need a sick day. It's a fairly basic thing, but sometimes, companies who offer internships don't often consider this. If you aren't presented with a number, then ask for one!
If invited to attend meetings, ask whether your input would be appreciated - you don't want to rock up to a meeting and start throwing your weight around like you know it all or like you own the place. You're there to learn, and a big part of that is listening. If you were hoping to have an input in a meeting, ask (before you go in) whether this is something that would be appropriate given the nature or topic of the meeting.
When briefed on a task, take notes - this means that you won't have to keep asking questions about it. You want to appear competent, and while asking questions is good, it's important that you're asking the right ones - you don't want it to seem like you haven't been listening.
Make sure your manager knows where you are - if you're going for lunch, let them know. If you're going into a meeting, let them know. It's more of a courtesy thing than anything else, so don't think of it as patronising or like you're being spied on. It just helps them to plan things around when you will and will not be in the workplace.
Have fun! - an internship, although scary, is a huge opportunity. You should enjoy it as much as possible, and get as much out of it as possible in order to gain the most from the experience. It's something which may not happen again, so have fun, make connections and enjoy the work you're being given to do. It will end as fast as it came around, so make the most of a brilliant opportunity.
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I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know whether this helped any of you, whether you're already doing an internship, or are about to do one. I will see you again really soon with another blog post for you!
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These are some great tips and I'll be sure to keep them in mind during my internship, so thank you!
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