Treat Your Internship Like a 10-Week Interview was originally published on Vault.
For students, an internship gives you experience as well as insight into the skills needed to succeed in your chosen field. For employers, an internship gives a firsthand look at how candidates operate in the workplace and what skills they bring to the table. While a full-time offer at the end of the program isn’t a guarantee, here’s how to impress during the 10-week interview process that is the internship.
The Market is Extremely Competitive
While companies are currently hiring more interns, the conversion rate to full-time employees has decreased. There are limited entry-level positions available, so standing out amongst your peers is crucial.
Every intern is going to make mistakes, so showing up and putting in your best effort is non-negotiable. Every project you complete, every meeting you attend, and every conversation you have is a chance to put your best foot forward. Your performance likely isn’t being marked on a score card, but the impression you make on your managers will really matter at the end of the program.
Showcase Your Skills
With skills-based hiring on the rise, it’s more important than ever to show what you can actually do, instead of simply listing your achievements or milestones. It’s great that you have a degree in English, but how are your writing skills? How have you achieved engagement with your writing? The “what you have” is still important, but the “what you can do” is what matters most for your career growth.
This is why during your internship, you’ll want to demonstrate real, observable competencies. This includes communicating effectively, solving problems using your critical-thinking skills, collaborating well with your peers, and adapting quickly when priorities change.
Use Networking to Your Advantage
Standing out and being noticed is important, and networking is a critical part of doing so. Forming a real professional relationship with your direct manager is the best place to start. Don’t treat your manager as just someone you take your marching orders from, but try to build a real connection with them. Find something you both have an interest in, or just take a genuine interest in them–they’ll probably do the same for you.
From there, start networking with upper management. Lots of internship programs encourage their interns to set up coffee chats or conversations over lunch with upper management, which can provide you with valuable career advice. Even if you don’t receive a full-time offer, having that person as a connection is beneficial.
Connecting with people isn’t about looking for what they can do for you, either. Developing connections with your fellow interns who are in the same boat as you can give you a professional support team. Maybe further into your career they can help you in your job search, but for now, focus on building relationships that are organic and make your internship both more fun and more meaningful.
Your internship is a mixture of a learning experience and a stage for you to showcase what you’re capable of. Show up curious, communicate clearly, and strive for excellence everywhere you can. Vault’s internship resources can help you prepare before day one and navigate the experience once you’re in.
