Career and Job Search Help Blog

Last year, a friend's son got a summer internship at the Ministry of the Environment. He worked in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, he knew that lab work was not his interest nor his forte. He has since switched to computer science and is loving it! Summer internships are a great way to gain work experience, make valuable contacts, and help you decide whether you would truly like doing a particular job or working in that specific environment.

If you land an internship, try to make the most of it! Some things to keep in mind:

1. Be on time, in fact, be early for work and all meetings. At the risk of sounding redundant, do a trial commute during rush hour before your first day of work. You do not want to be late on your first day of work.

2. Be proactive. If all you've been given for the past few weeks is filing responsibilities, talk to your manager and inquire about different tasks. Be realistic about what you should/shouldn't do in terms of tasks. Don't complain – complete your tasks professionally and with enthusiasm.

3. Ask questions. Don't assume that you know. Internships are two-way streets. Your manager expects certain things from you and you can expect to learn about the job/company. If you feel you have good ideas, bring them forward. Don't wait to be asked.

4. Be friendly (network!) and professional. After all, the employees are more or less working towards a common goal – the well-being and profitability of the company. Take all opportunities to build a professional relationship with your co-workers. Agree to any invitations to attend clients meetings, conferences, etc.

5. Try to have regular meetings with your manager; but, don't meet just for the heckofit. This is important for you because you want to get feedback and offer progress reports.

6. Make a list of goals. What do you want to accomplish by the end of this internship? Is it learning about the industry, new skills, networking within the company and industry, creating a portfolio? Write down your goals as well as the steps/milestones associated, and review them regularly. If you create anything – reports, documentation, and/or receive commendation, be sure to save a copy for your portfolio.