Nivedita Ramakrishnan
Landing an internship is a very big thing in life for all students who have prior experience of working. The impact that an internship has on the intern's life is varied: a good internship will take you places. But converting a "bad" internship where you're always failing at, into a "good" one depends on the intern's mindset and actions. So here are a few tips that I've compiled that should help all interns with these basic points that will help a lot if kept in mind and are acted upon:
This applies to both the internship interview and also once you've secured the internship offer. Knowing about the company you're interning for will go a long way in helping you out with various situations that may crop up unexpectedly. But at the least, you should know about your company if somebody asks you about it, right?
Once you know what you'll do doing in your internship, research about it. It might a title that you've not heard before or it might simply be a title for fancy's sake, who knows? Talk to your boss about what you're expected to do, research about how you must go about it so that while on the job, you'll be prepared.
Punctuality is an asset. Being on time will earn you not only brownie points with your boss, but will also help you with finishing pending tasks from the previous day!
Just because you got into the internship doesn't mean you can relax about the dress code! Mix and match with formals and casuals, keep your accessories light and avoid them sneakers although they're very comfortable. Most of all, dress smart, and dress comfortably: if your internship needs you to dress in formals, do it--but make sure you can move around well in it.
You're not in your close social-circles anymore! Know who is your immediate seniors, learn who really has the most authority, learn who stands next to you--these different people-levels are very different and are very important!
By this, it means to keep all your work materials ready. First thing, don't forget to carry a writing pen everywhere! Files, papers, paper-clips, storage devices, reports and oh! There are so many things that you'd need at work--keep them around you always so that you can get it as soon as you need it.
Whether its a doubt about work or something that's bothering you from performing well, talk to your boss or the HR person. Communication is key at work, remember that! These are seniors at work who will have a lot of experience to help you with, so go ahead and knock on their door.
If you are nervous--> you will fidget--> then you will lose your mind--> and forget what you want to say--> or will say something that you didn't mean--> and your boss will be upset at you.
Change this cycle! Don't be nervous. Even if something goes wrong, look at it with a bold front and think on how to solve it instead of thinking what bad remark it will bring you.
Be prompt as much as you can. Cut that coffee break to 10 minutes from 20, do as much as you can to not keep any work pending! As an intern, everything you do will heavily reflect on how you are perceived at the office!
Keep a bright countenance, remember that smiles are infectious--> even if your boss is moody, your cheerful mode will attract him and make him smiley as well. Your outlook will change and you'll feel as if you've become a wholly different person who's always positive!
Another teenager in university, having a penchant for Japanese, literature and all the small things in life that almost always go unnoticed.
