|
|
What recommendations do you have for finding a good internship?
|
|
There aren't really any secrets to securing an internship, although I
wish there were, because it's a wonderful opportunity that everyone should
have. Basically, it's a mixture of fate or luck, a good attitude, a willingness to learn -- which is almost better than already knowing a lot -- and having the guts to try something new and different.
What do I mean by a good attitude? The thing that strikes me right away is the ability not to become bored with the daily grind. That means never
being grumpy or negative about having to do mundane tasks, such as making 10 photocopies of a 100-page report, punching holes in documents, manually
filing away the sharp edges of a computer chassis, or flattening boxes.
Sure, an internship is fun and exciting most of the time, but it's also a
taste of the real business world too. Even managers or presidents have to
do some things that they don't normally enjoy. It's important to remember
that 1) you're helping someone out so they can concentrate on their "specialty," and that makes you a team member, and 2) practice never hurts anybody. Believe me, sometimes when work gets really busy, I long for those times when I can just switch on the autopilot and breeze through some tasks.
But whether you hear about it or not, your co-workers do notice all this extra
effort and a positive attitude!
This brings me to a very important point. I used to roll my eyes
at those sayings adults were always throwing at me, but one of the sayings
that I am glad I learned is "Never burn any bridges," because it has opened a lot of doors for me. In the business world, networking is the best way to
advancement. Networking is anything you do to increase the number of people you know, like taking down names and numbers of people you meet in the course of your internship. In fact, if it weren't for networking, I wouldn't even be typing this right now, nor would I have had the chance to be on TV or in The New York Times. When you display a good attitude and portray yourself as an employable and dependable person, people will remember that and keep you in mind for other opportunities. So keep the saying in mind as you work. Project that "I'm employable and dependable" image at all times, and doors will start to open. Besides, even bad days look a little less hopeless if you have the right attitude.
Lastly, try different things! I had very little experience with
most of the things I had to do at work, but I gave my employer an accurate assessment of my abilities and jumped into the position anyway. Sure, being honest might have cost me a job, but would you really want to have the
stress and pressure of always having to pretend you
know what you're doing? By telling the truth, you might lose the opportunity to get a certain job, but your interviewer might know of a position that's a better fit. But always, always push your limits. If someone is willing to teach you, then go for it! How many jobs do you know of that are there to prepare you for the next job? That's basically what's happening at an internship, if you think about it. During an internship, people know that you're a rookie, so you get to learn employable skills in a pressure-free environment. For me, the best way to learn something is by doing it.
So, with all of that in mind, keep an eye out for internships. Usually, schools will list them. (That's how my school works.) There might be some agencies that help students, too, so ask your career center or academic counselor. I got my internship through an agency.
|
|
How hard was it to make the transformation from school to the business
world?
|
|
It wasn't really hard at all. People knew I was an intern and
were really patient with me when it came to new tasks. Actually, most of
them were really impressed that a high-school student could be such a useful
member of their team. Communication is important, of course. If you are
ready for greater responsibility, then tell your supervisor. If you realize that you bit off more than you can chew, also talk to your supervisor. Believe me, most employers actually have below-average expectations of their interns, especially those in high school. Use your internship as a valuable opportunity to shine and impress people. Remember: Networking opens doors!
|
Enter your name, email address, and a question, then click "Submit."
|
