This Summer I had the pleasure of interning at the Baltimore City YouthWorks program through the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. I was matched with the program through my University, and though I was initially skeptical at the amount of responsibility, I soon found my place in the working world. I was put in charge of a team of 5 teenage interns, and together we visited all parts of the city to conduct interviews and figure out how to improve the YouthWorks program. Working with these wonderful young people, as well as with my supervisor, taught me a tremendous amount about the amazing city of Baltimore, and it also taught me about myself and the power of young interns. Here are some of the main takeaways from my internship this year.
- Research your organization in depth ahead of time, but don’t make assumptions before you get there.
- In a panic on my first day working for a city program in Baltimore, I realized that I didn’t know the full name of the city’s newly inducted mayor. I quickly googled it so as not to make a fool of myself with my new co-workers. Don’t be like me- make sure you know the basics about your organization’s mission, goals, and structure before the first day.
- Don’t underestimate your capabilities
- You were chosen for a reason. An internship is wonderful opportunity to learn what works (and what doesn’t work) for you in your future career.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Do your best not to be intimidated by your supervisors or co-workers. Approach them if you are confused on a task, but remember that they are often busy people, so try to condense your questions to get the most out of their limited time.
- Greet everyone
- Yes, even the grumpy employees who act like they don’t want to be bothered.
- Believe in the power of your own research
- Interns are hired for a reason; you may be the extra set of eyes or extra hands on deck needed to google that oddly specific topic that no one else in the office has had the time to.
- Look for opportunities to learn a new skill
- Within reason, take on projects that will stretch your knowledge and capabilities; maybe you’ll have to learn a little coding or master Excel, but the Summer is a perfect time to lightly exercise your brain and learn something totally new while you’re not juggling six other classes
- Write a thank-you note (or notes)
- Sometimes this small gesture can make a world of a difference. In a few weeks or months when you reach out to that supervisor about a recommendation letter, you want them to have a positive recollection their experiences with you. A thank-you card is a simple way to leave a positive mark on the people you worked with.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY- Write a resume style, bullet-point list of all the things you did at your internship. This will save you immense time in the future when you’re applying for your next job and need to update your resume. At the end of the internship, while the projects and tasks are still fresh on your mind, write them out and save them somewhere that you will be able to find them for future applications.
Every job is an opportunity to learn something. It is just a valuable to learn what you absolutely do not want to do for a career as it is to learn what you do want to do. While these tips may seem simplistic, staying mindful of these little things can help you gain the most from your internship opportunity in the long run. Happy interning!