Internship Dos and Don'ts: A Comprehensive Guide to Success

Internships are a vital component of a fulfilling college experience, offering invaluable opportunities to explore career paths, acquire real-world experience, and develop transferable skills essential for securing employment after graduation. Whether you're aiming for a high-profile internship or networking your way into a local business, understanding the do's and don'ts is paramount to maximizing your internship's potential. By preparing diligently, acting professionally, and adhering to these guidelines, you can impress your internship organization and avoid costly mistakes that could jeopardize future references or even a full-time job offer.

Preparing for Your Internship

Securing an Internship

Do complete an internship during your college career: Aim for multiple internships to gain a broader understanding of potential career paths.
Start Early: Begin your internship search the semester before you wish to intern, especially for competitive positions. High-profile internships often open applications months in advance.
Network with Professors: Talk to professors in your department or career field. They often have valuable contacts and may be willing to connect you with potential opportunities.
Contact Local Businesses: Don't hesitate to contact local businesses in your field, expressing your interest in gaining hands-on experience through shadowing or assisting employees.
Be Realistic: Understand that your first internship may not be a "perfect fit." Be willing to compromise on factors such as pay, tasks, or hours.
Consider Internships Outside Your Major: Internships outside your field of study can demonstrate versatility and broaden your skill set.
Enroll in an Internship Class: Many departments offer credit hours for semester-long internships, legitimizing your experience and counting it as class time.
Don’t Give Up: Never give up on your quest to obtain an internship.

Crafting Your Application

Do have a polished résumé: Ensure your résumé is professionally reviewed by peers or your school's career center.
Do write and submit a cover letter: A cover letter is often essential for employers to consider your application.
Always Send a Résumé: Always, always send a copy of your resume to any place you’re trying to intern, even if it’s not required.
Highlight Transferable Skills: Frame your experience broadly, emphasizing skills learned from various activities, such as volunteer work, extracurriculars, or personal achievements.
Utilize Career Center Resources: Don't forget to take advantage of all the benefits your college or university career center has to offer.

Interview Preparation

Do use mock interviews to refine your skills: Practice makes perfect when it comes to interviewing.

During Your Internship: Maximizing Your Experience

Professional Conduct and Communication

Do remember that you are in a professional setting: Maintain professional behavior and conduct at all times.
Do meet with your internship supervisor regularly: Communicate regularly with your supervisor to stay on track and address any concerns.
Do get as much exposure in the organization as possible: Seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills within the organization.
Do find a mentor within the organization if you can: A mentor can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights.
Do set specific goals for your internship: Define what you want to accomplish during your internship.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to ask questions when things are unclear.
Don’t Overstep Boundaries: Don’t overstep any boundaries.
Don’t Be on Your Phone: Stay off your phone during work hours.
Don’t Gossip: Avoid gossiping or talking negatively about colleagues.
Don’t Be Complacent: Don’t just do the bare minimum.
Don’t Be Shy: Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your ideas.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: If you are struggling with a task, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Be Proactive: Take initiative and ask for projects or tasks to work on. Don’t wait for your supervisor to assign you something.
Be Punctual: Arrive on time and be respectful of your supervisor’s time.
Dress Appropriately: Dress according to the company’s dress code.
Take Feedback Positively: Listen to feedback and take it as an opportunity to improve.
Be Open-Minded: Be open to new experiences and challenges.

Taking Initiative and Building Relationships

Do get as much exposure in the organization as possible: Find your role and claim ownership of your projects.
Do find a mentor within the organization if you can: It doesn’t have to be your immediate internship supervisor, as it’s possible they will be very busy.
Do take every chance to shine and stand out: Your internship should be nothing but a stellar experience.
Build relationships: Network with colleagues and build relationships with people in your industry.
Express interest: Express your interest in a full-time position with the company.
Don’t Pass on Opportunities: Don’t pass on an opportunity to gain experience beyond the official scope of your internship.

Post-Internship: Leveraging Your Experience

Networking and Future Opportunities

Do keep in touch with people who play a major role in your internship: Maintain connections even if the experience wasn't ideal.
Do update your résumé with accomplishments from your internship: Highlight your achievements and responsibilities.
Don’t Leave on a Bad Note: Don’t burn any bridges.
Stay Connected: Maintain your ties with your interns throughout the academic year.
Consider Alumni Networks: Keep in touch with past interns, track their career progress, and consider creating alumni networks to foster ongoing relationships.

Understanding Legal Considerations for Employers

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships: Understand the legal distinction between paid and unpaid internships, ensuring compliance with labor laws.
Primary Beneficiary Test: For unpaid internships, ensure the program primarily benefits the intern, providing educational value and skill development opportunities.
Wage and Hour Laws: Paid interns are subject to the same wage and hour laws as regular employees, including minimum wage and overtime requirements.
Internship Program Policies: Create clear internship program policies and practice guidelines, especially for unpaid internships, to ensure the intern is the primary beneficiary.
Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Laws: Ensure all employees and interns are aware of company culture, policies, and anti-harassment and discrimination laws.

Best Practices for Employers Hosting Interns

Pay Your Interns: Paying interns allows them to be given real work, enabling assessment of their performance for potential full-time hiring.
Recruit Interns as Full-Time Hires: Approach sourcing, recruiting, and securing interns with the same care as full-time hires.
Align Internship Program with Organizational Goals: Develop a pool of interns that matches your full-time hiring goals to support an inclusive workforce.
Provide Relocation and Housing Assistance: Offering relocation and/or housing assistance can attract a wider pool of candidates, especially economically disadvantaged students.
Offer Scholarships: Pairing a scholarship with your internship program can attract students with specific skill sets or those from particular backgrounds.
Consider Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer in-person, hybrid, or remote work arrangements to accommodate different student preferences and needs.
Provide Real Work Assignments: Ensure interns are doing work related to their major and/or skill set that is challenging, valuable, and fills the entire work term.
Hold Orientations for All Involved: Conduct orientation sessions for managers, mentors, and students to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Encourage Team Involvement: Involve college recruiting teams in the intern program to sponsor events and orient interns to company culture.
Invite Career Center Staff and Faculty to Visit Interns On Site: Build better working relationships with career center staff and faculty by inviting them to visit interns on site.
Hold New-Hire Panels: Showcase the organization as a great place to work by hosting panels of recent new hires who can answer questions from interns.
Bring in Speakers from Executive Ranks: Provide interns with access to accomplished professionals in their field by inviting executives to speak.
Offer Training/Encourage Outside Classes: Show interest in student development by providing access to in-house training and information about nearby community colleges.
Conduct Focus Groups/Surveys: Gather feedback from interns through focus groups and surveys to see the organization as students see it.
Showcase Intern Work Through Presentations/Expo: Allow students to demonstrate their achievements and showcase the internship program to all employees through presentations or an expo.
Conduct Exit Interviews: Gather feedback on the student’s experience and assess their interest in returning through real-time exit interviews.
Collect, Track, and Analyze Your Program’s Statistics: Ensure the program is effective by tracking and analyzing related data.