Congratulations! You nailed the interview and got an internship at the company of your dreams! Now what? What can you expect from this internship and be the best intern they’ve ever had? The last couple of years, I did some internships at respected fashion companies and while I was honoured at the first place for getting the internship and some amazing references for my CV. It was tough! Being a newbie just from grad school with no work experience, and did I mention it was in fashion? All of a sudden, I was surrounded by amazing ambitious, beautiful women!
I wish someone would have told me what to expect from my first internship and how to prepare. What I definitely learned during these intense internships, (besides a sh*tload of work experience) is to stay positive. Even when you are doing a lot of shitty tasks. Yes, you’ll make a lot of trips to the nearest Starbuck, and you’re probably exhausted after the first week, but it’s all worth it!
These are three key things you need to do before day one and how to stay positive during your internship. Best intern ever? Yeah, that’s about to be YOU!
#1 Start with the end in mind
Why are you doing this internship? Yes, to get more work experience. This internship is a great place to gain experience and skills. Keep in mind that everyone in the company you’re working for started at the bottom and once was an intern. Evaluate the talents you already possess and make a list of the ones you want to develop. One day you will be an excellent employee!
#2 Don’t let negative vibes of other people get to you
There are some people who like to treat the interns like, ahem ‘just interns’ but don’t let it get to you. You know why you are there and what you’re worth. It can be easy to shrug your time off as “just an internship”, but don’t underestimate the value of your input. Even if your tasks seem unimportant, it’s important to go in with the awareness that your efforts are freeing up valuable minutes so the people around you can perform their jobs better. You are part of the team, and your contribution matters—act like it!It’s all about staying positive. Learn how to make the best coffee and smile, alway greet people at the reception, people will remember that nice intern and eventually it will pay you back, in the long run. Stay positive, smile, be nice and don’t let negativity ruin your mood.
#3 Dress for the job you want
It’s common career advice to dress for the job you want. Show your supervisor that you understand the company culture. Do research on LinkedIn and Google. You don’t have to buy a whole new wardrobe, but you should always be in clean, wrinkle-free clothes that fit you well. Don’t forget to take your intern duties into account: Four-inch heels aren’t a great choice if you’ll be doing a lot of walking (or running!) around. ( which you are!)
Tell us what were your experiences during your internship and how did you manage to stay positive? Let us know!
By Olivia Blackmore