How To Stand Out At Your Internship
You should strive to stand out among the rest of your fellow interns. A daunting task, right? Here are some tips on how to stand out at your internship.
Stay strong
You landed the position. The hardest part is over, right? You couldn’t be more wrong! They hired you for a reason, and now is the time to prove yourself. Every single day is a time to bend the curve and work until you bleed (it’s that actually happens, please quit.) You’re going to get tired. You’re going to get hungry. You’re going to get bored. But stay strong. The strongest interns are the ones who power through the harsh ups and downs with grace and dedication.
If it isn’t broken, still fix it
Putting it in perspective, you are only one of the bunches of interns that flow in and out of the company. While you may do a superb job, it can be difficult to make your personal mark. But if there’s a will, there’s a way. You know how they say if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it? Well, whoever “they” is are wrong. A system can always be improved and a task can always be quickened. After a few weeks at your internship, scope out the flaws in your daily duties. Is there an Excel sheet that can be made or a binder to be created?
For example, at one of my favorite internships the interns were tasked with monitoring what seemed like hundreds fashion blogs for product placement, which ended up taking up to five hours. I knew that was not the most efficient method, so I put my thinking cap on. I ended up creating a “crossover” list of blogs that were gifted multiple designers. Implementing this list shed up to three hours off of the process. To this day my little “crossover” list is still in place, and I really feel like I helped develop the experience associated with the position.
Beginning to end
There’s no middle. Well, there is, but what matters is getting from the beginning to the end. No matter the size or weight, when someone gives you a task, you do it from start to finish. No ifs, ands, or buts. It’s your responsibility now. While making mistakes can be intimidating, they are inevitable and an opportunity for growth. Embrace your mistakes, and never hide them or put them on others. You always get caught, and taking ownership of your wrongdoings shows you are responsible, reliable, and willing to make a wrong right.
