Internship Advice 101

Internships are the necessity in today’s job market. They are not only a great way to gain experience in a field that you are interested in, but also for networking, problem-solving, and personal growth within the time you are working with a company. I have completed two internships myself, one for the USGA as a marketing intern at the 2009 U.S. Open, and also for Engine Room Audio, a music and mastering studio in New York city. After I completed these internships last summer, I felt more at ease with the “real world” and had a better idea of what I attended to do with my B.S. in PR from GSU.

One of my friends that attends Northeastern University interned at J.H. Cohen Accountants at their New York city location, and was hired after the completion of her internship! So… I thought it would be great to ask someone successful at their internship for some advice for others that are looking for, or in an internship. Sam’s advice was:

1. Meet new people. Try to introduce yourself to as many people during the first week of your internship. I was given an office, and tried to keep to myself, but it was awkward when someone would come into my office that I had not met yet. After that, I went around to everyone on my floors office and introduced myself.  I made a lot of new friends and made a great impression too!
2. Get involved. I joined the company softball team while I was interning and it was a great way to network in a more casual setting. It was an opportunity to really get to know the other employees outside of work.
3. Follow Up. After your internship is complete make sure that you keep in contact with the company. This shows them that you enjoyed your experience that you had, and are still interested in their company. Also, I gave out hand-written thank-you notes to all of the people who helped me throughout my internship, and that was another thing that can set you apart from other interns.

Another one of my friends at Georgia Southern just completed her internship at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta. She offered some advice on getting an internship. Carleigh’s advice was:

1. Look online. There are a lot of website that are only for internships. The sites usually break down the field that you want to go into, location, and companies that are hiring. A few good ones she suggested were:
   • Internship Programs, University of Dreams, Career Rookie
2. Do your research. When I was being interviewed for a few internships I always made sure that I looked up the company, looked at their website, and to see if there were any up coming events, etc. This always made a good impression during the interview when we could have a conversation about topics that were occurring, instead of having to explain everything to me.
3. Social Media skills. Tell your employer about your skills with different social media sites, blogs, etc. A lot of companies are trying to expand their reach, and if you could help them, your the new intern!