15 Dec 5 Quick Tips on Making the Most of Your Internship

As a new intern at Katz & Associates, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great team and be a part of several exciting projects. The Katz & Associates team is made up of skilled, strategic professionals and I’m thrilled to be learning from them.

An internship – like any opportunity – is what you make it. Whether you’re a student or new professional, gaining experience and building your portfolio is essential for career growth. Take advantage of your time and resources at your internships. You won’t regret it!

Here are five quick tips I’ve learned so far as an intern to help make your internship experience worthwhile.

1. Communicate regularly with your team.

Always ask about project deadlines and priority levels for tasks. In most cases, your team is working within a budget, so make sure you know project deadlines to work quickly and effectively. Prioritizing your projects not only promotes your organizational skills, but also shows your diligence and understanding of client, customer or corporate needs.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Remember, there are no “dumb” questions. It is always better to ask more questions than complete a task incorrectly and spend time to fix errors. You’re an intern, which means you are not expected to know everything. Ask, learn and improve.

3. Manage your time wisely.

To-do lists are every intern’s best friend. Color code your list; highlighting high priorities and deadlines then share your list with your team. Send an email to your team early in the week letting them know of your current tasks and availability, and another at the end of the week letting them know what you’ve completed. Your to-do lists may quickly fill, but crossing off completed tasks and updating your list every day or week will lower stress.

4. Apply all critiques.

As you’ve probably heard before: “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Mistakes happen, but don’t let them get you down. Your team members provide critiques to help make you better at your job. Take and apply any and all criticism. This shows your eagerness to improve and validates a positive, persevering personality. Also through critique, you learn about your strengths and how to apply them to what you are tasked with.

5. Treat every internship like it is your last.

Being hired as an intern means a company is taking a chance on you, so make each project – big or small – count. As mentioned before, every internship is an opportunity to grow. So, learn as much as possible to become the best you can be.