Making the Most Out of Your Internship

As the semester comes to an end, my classmates and I will each embark on our summer internships. This is something I am extremely excited to do because it really will be the first big step into my professional career. I had a lot of ideas about where I wanted to go and ended up picking an organization that I really didn't expect to choose. I connected instantly with my preceptor and an alumni who also works at the organization and am excited for all of the opportunities they have to offer. I came across an article in the Harvard Business Review called "6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Internship". Right off the bat, author John Coleman states,

"These experiences can be tremendously valuable, providing young workers the opportunity to build skills for their resumes and meet people who are working in their preferred industry. Increasingly, they are the likeliest route to full-time employment and are even offered year-round rather than only during summer months. But they can also be difficult adjustments for young people who have little to no experience in professional offices. It can be hard for someone to stand out and make the right impression during a three-month stint spent adapting to such a new environment."

 While I have had a lot of work experience, as I was employed as soon as I turned 16, I do not have a lot of experience in a professional office. My experiences mostly revolve around retail and restaurants where the environment is much more informal. I am hoping that I will be able to acclimate myself into the professional environment very quickly.

His first tip is "start with relentless punctuality". As someone who absolutely dreads being late, I do not see this being an issue for me. I am somewhat concerned getting my body/sleep schedule in sync with a typical work schedule on top of the time my commute will take me. Coleman also quotes an exective that mentions that "summer internships are for a short, defined period of time, so give it 100%." Our internships are only around 10 weeks which is just a little more than two months. I think that showing up on time shows both respect and dedication.
Second is "complete each task with excellence". This seems pretty obvious. You want your work to speak for itself.
Third is "take on more work without being asked". Luckily, this is something that has been drilled into me in each of my jobs. As a hostess, I often do things that really are not in my job description, but make the jobs of those around me easier. All year at my on campus job I am constantly the person picking up extra shifts or working in departments or areas that I am not familiar with. This has both helped my time management and has allowed me to not be afraid to try new opportunities just because they are not my responsibility or I am not familiar with them.
Fourth is "be resourceful". One thing a lot of the seniors stressed was keeping a notebook with questions or topics you were not familiar with. Coleman quotes an executive who discusses how asking too many questions can make it seem like you have not even attempted to find an answer by yourself. I think there is a balance between knowing when you need to ask for help and constantly asking for it instead of doing your own research first.
Fifth is "ask questions -- good ones". For me, asking questions shows you're engaged, whether that be in an interview, in class, in a meeting, or during a conversation. In the context of an internship, I feel that this is especially important when meeting with your preceptor. My goal for the summer is to "be a sponge" and soak up as much knowledge as I possibly can. Asking questions from a real professional is one of the best ways to do that. Coleman also suggests that when you hear a colleague ask a great question, write it down and consider what made it a great question. This tip can definitely help strengthen the quality of the questions you ask.
The sixth and final tip is "build professional relationships". Again, this seems pretty obvious. Networking is essential in a lot of professional careers, health administration is absolutely one of those careers. Relationships make experiences more memorable and strengthen professional development. Coleman also suggests learning from the great relationship-builders in your organization. It is often easy to spot the person in a company that has great relationships and I think there is a lot to learn from these people.

John Coleman makes a lot of valid points in this article. My key takeaways were giving it 100% all of the time, making sure you are asking the right questions, and trying to find answers yourself first instead of always asking for help. He states "doing only what's expected of you isn't enough to be noticed." This is a good rule in any position. Being a versatile employee and the person that often looks to go above and beyond is a good position to be in.