Sharing with You- My Tips for Interns #Internships

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02MkbIuEqc

Links to find internships below Note!

Today I wanted to share some tips that I have learned through the year. Although these are directed specifically for interns. I hope you enjoy the following tips!

1. Take your Notepad everywhere

• Note taking is a lifesaver while you are on your feet all day learning the ins and outs of the company processes all day long.

• It lets your supervisor know that you are taking the task at hand seriously and that you understand the value in first hand information.

• You can always go back, revise and add/evolve your notes.

• Often through your notes, you may identify key points in question that need more clarification. It's a great way to formulate questions for the future. This will add to your overall enrichment.

2. Have a positive disposition

• As you work time into your internship, keep an eye on the prize. Although it may be difficult at times, you may be working a lot, or you may not be getting paid (Let's be real), look on the bright side. This company is a potential employer for the future, enjoy and demonstrate all of your skills on a consistent basis.

• Take every task as an opportunity to show how engaged and in the moment you are. A present individual is someone who is less likely to make mistakes since they are actively paying attention to what is going on presently and thus less likely to miss a beat.

• This internship is also a great opportunity to experience the field and see if you would like to continue in that particular branch of your field.

• Just like any good or not so good thing in life, they help us to understand ourselves better- hence, this will help you understand your professional inclinations.

3. Build connections

• Interning allows you to build professional connections with people. A successful connection is the result of a good rapport between the parties. During your group meetings, team building meetings, or even during lunch, you can use this time to inquire about your coworker’s interests, and share some of your own and hopefully find a common ground. It’s also crucial that you use your social skills to solve problems with your coworkers, demonstrate cooperation. The point should be to add to your professional support group.

• Obviously, every situation is different, if the circumstances are safe for you to start networking from the get - go, by all means, share away and connect away on your professional platforms.

• This is why having a positive disposition is important. You want to leave a good impression and increase your chances for future consideration. I would still suggest to maintain a genuine and authentic presentation, don’t fret about trying to look a certain way in order to be accepted- instead, be transparent with your intentions.

• Once you have established a safe amount of rapport with peers or supervisors, gracefully offer to share your professional platforms (Linkedin, business cards or website). You can do this during an informal moment like lunchtime with peers. This is something you may want to reserve until the end of your internship to share with your supervisors, or maybe not, you measure it at eye label. I can say from personal experience, people are not there to eat you alive, they want you to succeed and do good! If you don't feel that way, then I can actually write an entire blog about that for later.

4. Ask

• We all respect someone who can be independent and make efforts on their own to find answers, especially in the workplace, when time is a sensitive matter and we all have our priorities and things to get accomplished. So, before jumping in to ask a question about any doubts that you have, try to find the answer on your own. If you are not satisfied with the information you are finding, if your question is not fully answered, then ask. This way you have a track record of your efforts to find an answer, and you’re not aimlessly asking questions just to get an immediate answer- this is a learning process.

• Don't make it a habit to ask incessantly, this is where your notes come in, or company resources.

• However, never be afraid to ask if you truly do not know.

• If you feel like you are terrified of asking a question because of the environment you have been able to see in the past couple of weeks, and you feel unsafe- Then really think about sitting down with someone you trust and expressing your concerns. But more on that later!

I hope you were able to enjoy these few tips I have formulated from my roads traveled!

I enjoy making these kinds of posts. If you have any further questions or comments please share them in the comments section! I appreciate you!

Links to find internships:

http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm

http://www.internships.com/student

https://www.internmatch.com/

http://www.youtern.com/

https://www.internqueen.com/

https://www.internjobs.com/

http://www.worknetdupage.org/blog/2016/04/06/summer-jobs-and-internships-tips-and-links-to-get-you-started/

https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/education/internships.html