How to Make the Most of Your Internship

To start on the right foot in one of the most important "jobs" you will ever have, read these tips to excel in your internship, avoid some of the common pitfalls and ensure you and your employer have a positive experience.

• Agree in writing what your job responsibilities will be. Most organizations with internship programs have agreement forms for you to sign. Be sure that this agreement represents what you wish to get from the internship as well.

• Because an internship is a work-learning experience, you should periodically evaluate your experience to make sure your are getting from it what you expected. Meet regularly with your supervisor to discuss whether you are meeting your goals and their goals, get feedback on your performance, and to clarify assignments and tasks before heading in the wrong direction.

• Be a dependable employee! Dependability can be demonstrated in many ways. For example, don't forget to call if you're sick or going to arrive late. This lets your supervisor know your job is important to you.

• Plan to work hard and do more than is expected. Avoid "it's not my job" thinking. Take the initiative and ask for additional assignments once you've completed yours.

• Learn the "corporate culture" of your organization and be willing to adapt to it. Organizations expect their employees to "fit in" and accept the corporate culture. If you don't understand it, you are more likely to make errors in political etiquette that can hurt your progress. For example, even though your supervisor told you the official starting time is 8:00am, when do most of the staff arrive and begin working? How do you learn what the culture is? Observe coworker's behaviors and when in doubt, ask questions.

• Develop and utilize strong interpersonal communication skills, including both oral and written communication. Every job, including technical ones, will require some degree of personal interaction. Learn to listen carefully to be sure you fully understand instructions or requests. Demonstrate patience and sensitivity with others, avoiding public confrontations or complaining. Learn the art of tact when working on a team which includes being receptive to other's input and knowing when to compromise. With written work, be sure you've proofread it carefully for content, spelling and grammar before submitting it.

• Another aspect of good communication skills is developing relationships with your coworkers. Get to know and be known by others in your work environment...your professional growth depends on it. A friendly attitude can also help you tap into your organization's "grapevine". Of course, this relationship building doesn't mean socializing the hours away at the expense of job duties.

• Leave your internship with a good recommendation from your supervisor and stay in touch - networking is the heart of a good job search, especially if you decide that this is the career field that you want to enter after graduation.

• Finally, the key to a successful transition into your new internship is to take the initiative and do the best you can. It is your chance to learn, contribute, and develop skills and behaviors you'll use throughout your future careers.